Tablet packing device

Abstract

To provide an inspection assistance system which can assist the inspection task of a pharmacist and a tablet packing device.SOLUTION: An inspection assistance system (1) includes an inspection display processing part (211) which is configured to display, per unit of packing, a capture image of a tablet which is captured before the tablet dispensed from one or both of a tablet cassette (41) and a manual distribution unit (42) based on prescription data is packed into a packing material in a tablet packing device (4), and is configured to display a result of an inspection process which is executed based on the prescription data and identification information of the tablet included in the capture image of the tablet. Thus, it is possible to assist a pharmacist's inspection task carried out with respect to the tablets packed by the tablet packing device (4).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection support system and a tablet packaging device that support the inspection of dispensing carried out based on prescription data. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a tablet packaging device is known that has a plurality of tablet cassettes that contain predetermined types of tablets and that can package the tablets contained in each of the tablet cassettes in dosage units based on prescription data (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Furthermore, the tablet packaging device may be provided with a manual dispensing unit that dispenses tablets, which have been placed in dosage units into a plurality of squares arranged in a matrix, in square units (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-104077 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In medical facilities such as hospitals and pharmacies, pharmacists inspect the tablets packaged by the tablet packaging device to confirm whether they are appropriate and correspond to prescription data.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection support system and a tablet packaging device that can support pharmacists in their inspection work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The inspection support system of the present invention displays photographed images of tablets dispensed from either or both of a tablet cassette and a manual dispensing unit based on prescription data in a tablet packaging device, taken in package units (single package units), before the tablets are packaged in packaging material, and is equipped with an inspection display processing unit that displays the results of the inspection process performed based on the tablet identification information contained in the photographed images of the tablets and the prescription data. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to support pharmacists in their inspection work. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a tablet rotating section of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a tablet rotating section of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of packaging results obtained by the tablet packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the audit support process executed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24A]FIG. 24A is a diagram showing the transition of the area of ​​a tablet in an image captured by an inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24B] Figure 24B is a diagram showing the transition of the area of ​​a tablet in an image captured by an inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for the information registration process executed in the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of selection setting information used in the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 32] FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for the device selection process executed in the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33A] FIG. 33A is a diagram showing an example of a medicine package dispensed by the inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33B] FIG. 33B is a diagram showing an example of a medicine package dispensed by the inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33C] FIG. 33C is a diagram showing an example of a medicine package dispensed by the inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 34]FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for automatic audit processing executed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 35A] FIG. 35A is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 35B] FIG. 35B is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 36] FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 37A] FIG. 37A is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 37B] FIG. 37B is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 38] FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 39A] FIG. 39A is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 39B] FIG. 39B is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 40] FIG. 40 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 41] FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 42A] FIG. 42A is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 42B] FIG. 42B is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 43] FIG. 43 is a diagram showing the configuration of a packaging unit of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 44] FIG. 44 is a diagram showing the configuration of a sealing device of a packaging unit of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 45] FIG. 45 is a diagram showing the configuration of a sealing device of a packaging unit of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 46] FIG. 46 is a diagram showing the configuration of a sealing device of a packaging unit of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 47] FIG. 47 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine package dispensed from the tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 48] FIG. 48 is a diagram showing the configuration of a packaging unit of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 49] FIG. 49 is a diagram showing the configuration of a packaging unit of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 50A] FIG. 50A is a diagram showing an example of an image captured by the tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 50B] FIG. 50B is a diagram showing an example of an image captured by the tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 51] FIG. 51 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of a method for forming sachets executed by a tablet packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 52] FIG. 52 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of a subroutine for the second vertical seal forming step executed in the tablet packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 53] FIG. 53 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 54] FIG. 54 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 55] FIG. 55 is a diagram illustrating an example of the pattern matching process. [Figure 56] FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the image inspection processing executed in the inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 57] FIG. 57 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for the similar drug registration process executed in the inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 58] FIG. 58 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed by the audit support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 59] FIG. 59 is a diagram showing an example of a normal image used in an inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 60] FIG. 60 is a diagram showing an example of a normal image used in an inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 61A] FIG. 61A is a diagram for explaining the capsule image processing function of the inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 61B] Figure 61B is a diagram for explaining the capsule image processing function of the inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 61C] Figure 61C is a diagram for explaining the capsule image processing function of the inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 61D] Figure 61D is a diagram for explaining the capsule image processing function of the inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention. Note that the following embodiments are examples of specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it is possible to select and combine the configurations and processing functions of the following embodiments in any desired manner.

[0010] [First embodiment] As shown in Figure 1, an inspection support system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a server 2, one or more client terminals 3, one or more tablet packaging devices 4, and one or more dispensing machines 5. The server 2 alone may be considered as the inspection support system according to the present invention.

[0011] The server 2, the client terminal 3, the tablet packaging device 4, and the dispensing machine 5 are each connected to each other via a communication network N1 such as a LAN or the Internet, wirelessly or by wire, so as to be able to communicate with each other. A higher-level system 6, such as an electronic medical record system or a prescription input terminal, which inputs prescription data to the server 2, is also connected to the server 2 via the communication network N1. It is also possible that the server 2 is capable of reading prescription data from a prescription, or that prescription data can be input to the server 2 by user operation.

[0012] [Server 2] The server 2 is a personal computer equipped with a control unit 21, a memory unit 22, a communication I / F 23, a display unit 24, an operation unit 25, a drive device 26, and a code reading unit 27. The server 2 is placed inside or outside the medical institution where the inspection support system 1 is used.

[0013] The control unit 21 has control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM (registered trademark). The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit that pre-stores information such as control programs for causing the CPU to execute various processes. The RAM is a volatile storage unit, and the EEPROM is a non-volatile storage unit. The RAM and the EEPROM are used as temporary storage memories (work areas) for the various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 21 then uses the CPU to execute various processes in accordance with the various control programs pre-stored in the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 22.

[0014] The storage unit 22 is a storage unit such as a hard disk drive or SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various data. Specifically, the storage unit 22 pre-stores an audit support program for causing a computer such as the control unit 21 to execute the audit support process (see FIG. 7) described below.

[0015] The storage unit 22 also stores various databases, such as a pharmaceutical master, a patient master, a cassette master, and a pharmacy master. The pharmaceutical master includes information about each pharmaceutical, such as the pharmaceutical ID, pharmaceutical code, pharmaceutical name, YJ code, JAN code (or RSS code), medicine bottle code, classification (dosage form: powder, tablet, liquid, topical, etc.), tablet shape (capsule, spherical, flat (disk-shaped) tablet, etc.), tablet size, specific gravity, pharmaceutical type (ordinary medicine, poison, narcotic, powerful drug, antipsychotic, therapeutic drug, etc.), incompatibility, excipient, and precautions. The patient master includes information about patients, such as patient ID, name, gender, age, medical history, prescription history, family information, department, ward, and room. The pharmacy master includes information about the pharmacy, such as the pharmacy name, pharmacist name, and pharmacist ID. The cassette master is information indicating the correspondence between cassette identification information of each medicine cassette 41 (described later) included in the tablet packaging device 4 and the tablets allocated to each medicine cassette 41.

[0016] Furthermore, the storage unit 22 stores a drug database, separate from the drug master, in which information such as drug code, drug name, JAN code, RSS code, vial code, dosage form, unit, specific gravity, drug type, compounding variations, excipients, precautions, allergy information, and package insert information is associated with each drug. In particular, the drug database stores information about tablets, such as the tablet identification information, tablet shape, and tablet appearance images (front and back). The drug database is read from a recording medium such as a CD or DVD by the drive device 26 or received from an external device via the communication network N1 and stored in the data storage unit 22. The drug database is used in the inspection support system 1 when importing information into various masters such as the drug master or when referencing information on the package inserts of each drug. For example, the inspection support system 1 can display the drug database in response to user operations on the server 2 or the client terminal 3. The control unit 21 may be configured to be able to read out the medicine database from an external device or website via the communication network N1 as needed.

[0017] The communication I / F23 is a communication interface having a network card or the like that performs wireless or wired data communication in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol between external devices such as the client terminal 2, the tablet packaging device 4, and the dispensing equipment 5 via the communication network N1.

[0018] The display unit 24 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal monitor that displays various information and operation screens in accordance with control instructions from the control unit 21. The operation unit 25 is an operation unit such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel that accepts user operations, and inputs operation signals corresponding to user operations to the control unit 21. The operation unit 25 accepts various operation inputs, such as a prescription data selection operation on the display screen displayed on the display unit 24, and a prescription data issuance operation that requests the start of dispensing of the prescription data.

[0019] The drive device 26 is capable of reading the audit support program from a computer-readable recording medium 261 on which the audit support program is recorded. The recording medium 261 is a CD, DVD, BD, USB memory, etc., and the drive device 26 is a CD drive, DVD drive, BD drive, USB port, etc. In the server 2, the control unit 21 uses the drive device 26 to read the audit support program from the recording medium 261 and stores it in the memory unit 22.

[0020] The code reading unit 27 is a barcode reader capable of reading code information (such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code). For example, the code reading unit 27 is used to read prescription data from the code information written on a prescription. The prescription data read from the prescription is stored in the memory unit 22 by the control unit 21.

[0021] In the server 2 configured as described above, the control unit 21 includes an inspection display processing unit 211, a list display processing unit 212, an operation display processing unit 213, and a re-execution processing unit 214. Specifically, the control unit 21 functions as the inspection display processing unit 211, the list display processing unit 212, the operation display processing unit 213, and the re-execution processing unit 214 by executing various processes in accordance with the inspection support program. The control unit 21 also has a function of generating prescription data for dispensing (dispensing data) for causing the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 to execute dispensing processes such as packaging based on the prescription data, and inputting the prescription data to the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5. As a result, the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 execute dispensing processes such as packaging based on the prescription data.

[0022] The inspection display processing unit 211 displays, on the client terminal 3 or the like, photographed images of tablets dispensed from a tablet cassette 41 or manual dispensing unit 42 (described below) based on prescription data in the tablet packaging device 4, taken before the tablets are packaged in packaging material such as packaging paper. The inspection display processing unit 211 also displays, on the client terminal 3 or the like, the results of an inspection process executed based on the prescription data and the tablet identification information (such as characters or symbols) contained in the photographed image of the tablet. For example, in the inspection process, identification information recognized from the photographed image of the tablet by character recognition processing is compared with the tablet identification information contained in the prescription data. In addition, in the inspection process, an image of the identification information contained in the photographed image of the tablet may be compared with a genuine image registered in advance corresponding to the tablet identification information contained in the prescription data.

[0023] When the result of the inspection process is an error, the list display processing unit 212 displays a list of the cause of the error together with the date and time of taking the tablet that caused the error. For example, the list display processing unit 212 displays an NG list area A37 (see FIG. 11) on an inspection details screen D31 (described later) on the client terminal 3 or the like.

[0024] The operation display processing unit 213 displays an operation unit for individually re-executing part or all of the dispensing process based on the prescription data executed by the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 on a first display screen on which the inspection results of the drugs dispensed by the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 are displayed or on a second display screen which is displayed after a predetermined operation on the first screen. More specifically, in this embodiment, the operation display processing unit 213 can display operation keys K33, K34, an input field K35, K36, etc., which will be described later, as the operation unit for re-executing part or all of the packaging process executed by the tablet packaging device 4 on an inspection details screen D31 (see FIG. 11), which will be described later, which is the first display screen on which the inspection process results are displayed by the inspection display processing unit 211.

[0025] The re-execution processing unit 214 causes the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 to re-execute part or all of the dispensing process executed by the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5, in accordance with a user operation on the operation unit displayed by the operation display processing unit 213. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the re-execution processing unit 214 can cause the tablet packaging device 4 to re-execute part or all of the packaging process executed by the tablet packaging device 4, in accordance with a user operation on the operation unit displayed by the operation display processing unit 213.

[0026] [Client terminal 3] On the other hand, the client terminal 3 is a personal computer equipped with a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a communication I / F 33, a display unit 34, an operation unit 35, a drive device 36, and a code reading unit 37. Each of the client terminals 3 is an operation terminal that is placed in a medical institution where the inspection support system 1 is used, and is operated by a user such as a pharmacist.

[0027] The control unit 31 has control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit that pre-stores information such as control programs for causing the CPU to execute various operations. The RAM is a volatile storage unit, and the EEPROM is a non-volatile storage unit. The RAM and the EEPROM are used as temporary storage memories (work areas) for the various operations executed by the CPU. The control unit 31 then uses the CPU to execute various operations in accordance with the various control programs pre-stored in the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 32.

[0028] The storage unit 32 is a non-volatile storage unit such as a hard disk or SSD that stores various application programs and various data executed by the control unit 31. Specifically, the storage unit 32 stores application programs such as an operating system (OS) and browser software. The browser software is application software that accesses the server 2 via the communication network N1 to display various operation screens on the display unit 34 and transmits input operations on the operation screens using the operation unit 35 to the server 2. Specifically, when address information such as a URL (Universal Resource Locator) corresponding to the server 2 is entered in a predetermined position on the operation screen displayed by the browser software, the control unit 31 accesses the server 2 based on the address information.

[0029] The communication I / F 33 is a communication interface having a network card or the like that executes wireless or wired data communication with an external device such as the server 2 via the communication network N1 in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol.

[0030] The display unit 34 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display that displays various information in accordance with control instructions from the control unit 31. The operation unit 35 is an operation unit operated by a user to input various information to the client terminal 3. Specifically, the operation unit 35 includes a keyboard and a mouse (pointing device) that accept input operations on various operation screens displayed on the display unit 34. The operation unit 35 may also include a touch panel that accepts touch operations on various operation screens displayed on the display unit 34, or a voice input device that accepts input of various information by voice recognition.

[0031] The drive device 36 is capable of reading the OS, the browser software, etc. from a computer-readable recording medium 361 on which the OS, the browser software, etc. are recorded. The recording medium 361 is a CD, DVD, BD, USB memory, etc., and the drive device 36 is a CD drive, DVD drive, BD drive, USB port, etc. In the client terminal 3, the control unit 31 stores the OS, the browser software, etc. read from the recording medium 361 using the drive device 36 in the storage unit 32.

[0032] The code reading unit 37 is a barcode reader capable of reading code information (such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code). For example, the code reading unit 37 is used to read the code information written on the medicine packet 451.

[0033] In the audit support system 1, a server-client system is configured by the server 2 and the client terminal 3, and a case will be described in which the server 2 executes various processes in response to user operations on the client terminal 3. Therefore, the "display," "operation," "selection," "input," and the like described below are performed using the display unit 34 and the operation unit 35 of the client terminal 3. For example, the control unit 21 of the server 2 causes the client terminal 3 to display various screens by transmitting data written in a page description language such as HTML to the client terminal 3.

[0034] In addition, part or all of the inspection support program may be installed on one or more of the server 2, the client terminal 3, and the tablet packaging device 4, and the inspection support process described below may be executed in cooperation with the server 2, the client terminal 3, and the tablet packaging device 4, etc.

[0035] In another embodiment, the inspection support system 1 may be provided with an inspection support system having an inspection support function that executes the inspection support process (see FIG. 7) described below, separate from the server 2. The inspection support system is an information processing device such as a personal computer or tablet terminal, and is capable of communicating with the server 2, the client terminal 3, the tablet packaging device 4, and the dispensing device 5 provided in the inspection support system 1. It may also be possible for the inspection support system to be installed in dispensing equipment such as the tablet packaging device 4.

[0036] [Tablet packaging device 4] The tablet packaging device 4 is a dispensing device used to dispense medicines. Specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tablet packaging device 4 includes a control unit 40, a tablet cassette 41, a manual distribution unit 42, a separation unit 43, a rotation unit 44, a packaging unit 45, a photographing unit 46, and a passage detection unit 47. The tablet packaging device 4 can automatically dispense tablets from either or both of the tablet cassette 41 and the manual distribution unit 42 based on the prescription data and package them in dosage units. The dashed dotted line in Figure 2 indicates the path of tablet movement.

[0037] The photographing unit 46 includes cameras 461-467 provided on the path of tablet movement from the tablet cassette 41 to the packaging unit 45 and on the path of tablet movement from the manual distribution unit 42 to the packaging unit 45. The cameras 461-467 are used to photograph each tablet or a group of tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual distribution unit 42 before the tablets are packaged in packaging paper by the packaging unit 45. The images photographed by the cameras 461-467 are stored in a storage unit 49, which is a storage device such as a hard disk provided in the tablet packaging device 4, and are also transmitted to the server 2 by the control unit 40.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the camera 461 is used to photograph the tablets supplied from the tablet cassette 41 to the rotary unit 44. The cameras 462 and 463 are used to photograph different regions (e.g., the front and back surfaces) of the outer periphery of a tablet being rotated by a tablet rotation section 441 (described later) provided in the rotary unit 44. The camera 464 is used to photograph the tablets stored in the manual distribution unit 42. The camera 465 is used to photograph the tablets supplied from the manual distribution unit 42 to the separation unit 43. The camera 466 is used to photograph the tablets supplied from the separation unit 43 to the rotary unit 44. The camera 467 is used to photograph tablets in a dosage unit (package unit) stored in a storage section 443 (described later) provided in the rotary unit 44. If the tablet packaging device 4 does not include a storage unit 443 described below, the camera 467 is used to photograph the tablets as they fall from the rotary unit 44. Alternatively, instead of the storage unit 443, a medicine introduction unit 80 (see Figures 48 and 49) that guides the tablets falling from the rotary unit 44 to the packaging material arranged below may be provided. In this case, the camera 467 may be placed in a position where it can photograph an area including the medicine introduction unit 80, the tablets, and the packaging material, instead of the tablets stored in the storage unit 443.

[0039] The passage detection unit 47 also includes passage detection sensors 471-475, such as optical sensors, that detect the passage of the tablets along the tablet movement path from the tablet cassette 41 to the packaging unit 45 and the tablet movement path from the manual distribution unit 42 to the packaging unit 45. The tablet detection signals from the passage detection sensors 471-475 are input to the control unit 40.

[0040] 2, the passage detection sensor 471 detects tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette 41, and the passage detection sensor 472 detects tablets dropping from the tablet cassette 41 onto the rotary unit 44. The passage detection sensor 473 detects tablets dispensed from the manual distribution unit 42, and the passage detection sensor 474 detects tablets dropping from the separation unit 43 onto the rotary unit 44. The passage detection sensor 475 detects tablets dropping from a tablet rotation section 441 (described below) into a storage section 443 in the rotary unit 44.

[0041] The control unit 40 has a processor such as a CPU and storage units such as RAM and EEPROM, and comprehensively controls the tablet packaging device 4. Specifically, the control unit 40 controls the operation of the tablet packaging device 4 based on the prescription data input from the server 2, thereby executing a packaging process for packaging one or more types of tablets corresponding to the prescription data for each dosage period.

[0042] Furthermore, the control unit 40 executes an imaging process in which the imaging unit 46 captures an image in response to the timing of tablet detection by the passage detection unit 47. For example, when the passage detection sensor 472 detects tablets falling from the tablet cassette 41 into the tablet rotation unit 441, imaging is performed by the camera 461. Note that imaging by the cameras 462 and 463 is performed at preset imaging intervals (several ms) during the packaging process in the tablet packaging device 4. On the other hand, imaging by the camera 464 is performed when an operation input is made to the manual distribution unit 42 to indicate that the manual tablet distribution work has been completed. Furthermore, when the passage detection sensor 473 detects tablets being dispensed from the manual distribution unit 42, imaging is performed by the camera 465, and when the passage detection sensor 474 detects tablets falling from the separation unit 43 into the tablet rotation unit 441, imaging is performed by the camera 466. Furthermore, when the passage detection sensor 475 detects the number of tablets corresponding to one dose, imaging is performed by the camera 467. Furthermore, if the tablet packaging device 4 does not include the storage unit 443, the camera 467 captures an image of the tablet falling from the rotary unit 44 each time the passage detection sensor 475 detects a tablet falling from the rotary unit 44. The timing of capturing images by the cameras 461-467 is not limited to the above, and may be set in advance depending on the intended use of each captured image. Furthermore, in the tablet packaging device 4, the control unit 40 can determine the progress of the tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual dispensing unit 42 to the packaging unit 45 based on the detection results of the passage detection sensors 471-475. Therefore, for example, if the tablet is not dispensed normally, the control unit 40 can determine the position to which the tablet has moved and notify (display) the user of this. In addition, the tablet packaging device 4 may have an exterior member on the path along which the tablet moves made of a transparent or translucent material, allowing the tablet movement status to be visually observed from the outside.

[0043] The control unit 40 can then perform an automatic inspection process based on the prescription data and the image of the tablet captured by the camera 462 or the camera 463. In the automatic inspection process, when the tablet identification information contained in the image of the tablet is recognized, the tablet identification information is compared to the drug information contained in the prescription data. Thus, the control unit 40 inspects whether the packaging process was performed properly based on the image captured by the camera 462 or the camera 463 before the tablets are packaged in the drug package 451. Here, the control unit 40 is an example of an image inspection processing unit when it performs an image inspection process that compares the tablet identification information contained in the image with the prescription data as the automatic inspection process for automatically inspecting the appropriateness of the packaging process. Note that various conventional techniques, such as a pattern matching process, are used to acquire the tablet identification information from the image of the tablet in the automatic inspection process. If the collation result is a match, it is determined to be correct, and if the collation result is a mismatch, it is determined to be an error.

[0044] Furthermore, when the control unit 40 executes the automatic inspection process using the tablet identification information acquired from the photographed image of the tablet, it transmits the original image of the tablet photographed by the camera 462 or the camera 463 when the identification information was read from the tablet, along with the result of the automatic inspection process (match or error), to the server 2. Note that, in the automatic inspection process, the control unit 40 may extract the area of ​​the tablet from the photographed image photographed by the camera 462 or 463 and read the tablet identification information based on the extracted cropped image. In this case, the control unit 40 transmits the cropped image to the server 2 as the original image instead of or together with the photographed image.

[0045] The tablet cassette 41 is a cassette that stores tablets of a predetermined type, and the tablet packaging device 4 is provided with a plurality of the tablet cassettes 41. Then, in the tablet packaging device 4, tablets included in the prescription data are automatically dispensed from the tablet cassette 41.

[0046] The manual distribution unit 42 has cells arranged in a matrix, and each cell receives tablets that are not suitable for dispensing from the tablet cassette 41, such as half tablets. The manual distribution unit 42 is capable of dispensing the tablets contained in each cell on a cell-by-cell basis. The separation unit 43 is capable of separating the tablets dispensed from the manual distribution unit 42 one by one and supplying them to the rotation unit 44. Various configurations are possible for the separation unit 43, but for example, the separation unit 43 may be configured to supply tablets one by one from the tip of a V-shaped groove by vibrating the groove and transporting them.

[0047] 2 and 3, the rotation unit 44 includes six tablet rotation sections 441, a unit rotation section 442, and a storage section 443. The unit rotation section 442 is rotatably supported by a base section (not shown). Note that Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the rotation unit 44 as viewed from above.

[0048] Each of the tablet rotation units 441 is capable of changing the posture of a single tablet supplied from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual distribution unit 42 by rotating the tablet. The unit rotation unit 442 has six tablet rotation units 441 arranged at 60° intervals around a predetermined rotation axis, and the unit rotation unit 442 is capable of rotating the tablet rotation units 441 around the predetermined rotation axis. Specifically, the unit rotation unit 442 is capable of moving each of the tablet rotation units 441 sequentially to six positions: a drop position P1 for tablets from the separation unit 43, a drop position P2 for tablets from the tablet cassette 41, a position P3 where the tablet can be photographed by the camera 462, a position P4 where the tablet can be photographed by the camera 463, a standby position P5, and a drop position P6 into the storage unit 443.

[0049] 4, in the tablet packaging device 4, when one tablet 17 dispensed from the tablet cassette 41 falls into the tablet rotation section 441, or when one tablet 17 dispensed from the separation unit 43 falls into the tablet rotation section 441, the unit rotation section 442 rotates the tablet rotation section 441 by 60°. As a result, each tablet dispensed from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual distribution unit 42 moves sequentially from the drop position P1 or the drop position P2 toward the drop position P6 while being individually placed on the tablet rotation section 441. Then, at the photographable positions P3 and P4, the tablet 17 is photographed by the cameras 462 and 463.

[0050] Thereafter, the tablets 17 placed on the tablet rotation section 441 fall from the fall position P6 into the storage section 443. The storage section 443 is used to temporarily store tablets in a dosage unit on the way down from the rotation unit 44 to the packaging unit 45. After the tablets in a dosage unit have been stored in the storage section 443, the bottom surface is opened and the tablets in a dosage unit contained in the storage section 443 are supplied to the packaging unit 45.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 3, lighting devices 468 and 469 are fixed above the rotation unit 44 to illuminate the tablets at positions where the cameras 462 and 463 can capture images. The lighting devices 468 and 469 irradiate the tablet rotation unit 441 with light at different angles or with different illuminances so that the cameras 462 and 463 capture images with different lighting environments. For example, the lighting device 468 provides illumination suitable for reading the tablet identification information engraved on the tablet. For example, the lighting device 468 may irradiate the tablet with light from the side or diagonally above so that the tablet identification information is clearly captured. Note that the lighting device 468 may irradiate the tablet with light from multiple directions. This is because, if the tablet identification information formed on the tablet is engraved, the engraving creates unevenness on the tablet surface, and the appearance of the identification information in the captured image of the tablet may change depending on the angle of light irradiation relative to the unevenness. Here, the camera 462 and the lighting device 468 are an example of a first photographing unit. The lighting device 469 provides illumination suitable for reading the tablet identification information printed on the tablet. For example, it may illuminate the tablet from above so that the tablet identification information is clearly photographed. This is because, when the tablet identification information is printed, the identification information is formed on the tablet surface using paint or developer, etc., so that the tablet does not have any unevenness, and the appearance of the identification information in the photographed image of the tablet is less likely to change. Here, the camera 463 and the lighting device 469 are an example of a second photographing unit. Whether the tablet identification information, such as letters or symbols, is engraved or printed on the tablet is pre-registered in the pharmaceutical master or the like. The pharmaceutical master may be stored not only in the memory unit 22 of the server 2 but also in the memory unit 49 provided in the tablet dispensing device 4.For example, in the pharmaceutical master, the engraving flag may be set to "1" for tablets whose identification information is engraved, and the printing flag may be set to "1" for tablets whose identification information is printed. In the pharmaceutical master, the engraving flag may be set to "1" for tablets whose identification information is engraved, and the engraving flag may be set to "0" for tablets whose identification information is printed. In the tablet packaging device 4, images captured by the cameras 462 and 463 that are suitable for the method of forming the tablet's identification information (engraving or printing) on ​​the tablet are used for the automated inspection process. As described above, the method of forming the identification information includes, for example, engraving, in which the identification information is formed by unevenness on the tablet surface, and printing, in which the identification information is formed by applying paint or developer to the tablet surface. Furthermore, images captured by the cameras 462 and 463 that have a high degree of match, such as pattern matching, when recognizing the tablet's identification information, or images in which the tablet's identification information is clearly captured may be used for the automated inspection process.

[0052] Similarly to the server 2, the storage unit 49 also stores a drug database, separate from the drug master, in which information such as drug code, drug name, JAN code, RSS code, vial code, dosage form, unit, specific gravity, drug type, compounding variations, excipients, precautions, allergy information, and package insert information is associated with each drug. In particular, the drug database stores information about tablets, such as the tablet identification information printed on the tablet, the tablet shape, and an external image of the tablet (front and back). The drug database is read from a recording medium such as a CD or DVD by a drive device (not shown) provided in the tablet packaging device, or is received from an external device such as the server 2 via the communication network N1 and stored in the storage unit 49. The control unit 40 may also be configured to be able to read the drug database as needed from an external device such as the server 2 or a website via the communication network N1.

[0053] Here, an example of the tablet rotation unit 441 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tablet rotation unit 441 includes a pair of rotating rollers 100, a pair of support plates 101 that individually support each of the rotating rollers 100, and a spring 102 that biases the pair of support plates 101 toward each other. In the tablet rotation unit 441, arms 103 extend from both ends of each of the support plates 101, and meshing gears 104 are formed at the tips of the arms. As a result, in a normal state, the rotating rollers 100 are in close proximity to each other, and the pair of rotating rollers 100 can support the tablet 17. Meanwhile, the pair of rotating rollers 100 move toward and away from each other in synchronization with the rotation of the gears 104. When the rollers are in contact or close proximity, the drug 17 is rotatably supported, and when they are separated, the drug 17 falls from the pair of rotating rollers 100 toward the storage unit 443.

[0054] Furthermore, a driven gear 100a is integrated with one end of the rotation shaft of each of the rotating rollers 100. A drive gear 106 integrated with one end of a drive shaft 105 is engaged with each of the driven gears 100a. A driven roller (not shown) is integrated with the other end of the drive shaft 105. The driven roller is composed of a magnetic gear. Furthermore, in the rotation unit 44, when the tablet rotation section 441 moves to position P3 where photography by the camera 462 is possible or position P4 where photography by the camera 463 is possible, a connecting magnetic gear (not shown) connected to a predetermined drive motor is provided directly below the tablet rotation section 441 and away from the tablet rotation section 441.

[0055] When the tablet rotation unit 441 moves to the camera 462's photographing position P3 or the camera 463's photographing position P4, the driving force from the predetermined drive motor is transmitted to the driven roller via the connecting magnet gear. As a result, the driving force of the predetermined drive motor is transmitted to the pair of rotating rollers 100 via the driven roller and the drive shaft 105, and the pair of rotating rollers 100 rotate synchronously in the same direction. Therefore, when the tablet 17 is placed on the pair of rotating rollers 100, the tablet 17 rotates. Therefore, the tablet rotation unit 441 can change the orientation of the tablet 17 photographed by the cameras 462 and 463, allowing the outer peripheral surface of the tablet 17 to be photographed from different directions. That is, the tablet 17 being rotated by the tablet rotation unit 441 is photographed intermittently or continuously by the cameras 462 and 463, thereby allowing the outer peripheral surface of the tablet 17, including identification information engraved or the like, to be photographed.

[0056] The configuration of the tablet rotation unit 441 described here is merely one example, and the tablet rotation unit 441 may be configured in any way as long as it is capable of displacing the tablet into a state where an image can be captured by the cameras 462 and 463, etc., from which the tablet's identification information can be read. However, it is desirable that the captured image be captured in a state where the tablet's identification information is clearly visible. Furthermore, the tablet packaging device 4 may be configured such that, as long as it is possible to capture images of the outer circumferential surface of the tablet from different directions, the tablet is placed on a transparent loading plate and the tablet is photographed from the front and back sides of the loading plate.

[0057] While the control unit 40 could compare all of the captured images with the correct image associated with the tablet or attempt to read the tablet's identification information from all of the captured images, this could increase the processing load or reduce the accuracy of reading the tablet's identification information. In contrast, if the tablet is a flat tablet, the accuracy of the automated inspection process can be improved by comparing the captured images of the front and back surfaces of the flat tablet taken by the camera 462 or the camera 463 from a direction perpendicular to those surfaces with the correct image, or by reading the tablet's identification information from the captured images. This is because, when the tablet is a flat tablet, the tablet's identification information is located on either or both the front and back surfaces of the flat tablet. Therefore, when the tablet is a flat tablet, the control unit 40 may identify the captured image to be compared with the correct image or the captured image used to obtain the tablet's identification information based on the area of ​​the tablet contained in the multiple captured images.

[0058] First, the control unit 40 determines whether the tablet is a flat tablet based on the change in the area of ​​the tablet in each of the captured images. For example, if the ratio of the maximum and minimum values ​​of the tablet's area in each of the captured images is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, i.e., if the change in the tablet's area is large, it can be considered that the tablet is determined to be a flat tablet. The control unit 40 may also determine whether the tablet is a flat tablet based on the pharmaceutical master or the pharmaceutical database. Then, if the control unit 40 determines that the tablet is a flat tablet, it identifies a captured image among the multiple captured images that was taken between the two captured images with the largest tablet area and in which the tablet's area is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0059] For example, when the areas of the tablets in each of the photographed images are arranged in the order in which they were taken, the control unit 40 may identify the photographed image immediately before the photographed image in which the transition (slope) of the tablet area changes from increasing to decreasing as the photographed image in which the area of ​​the tablet is the largest. This identifies the two photographed images in which the area of ​​the tablet is the largest from the multiple photographed images corresponding to one circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the tablet. That is, the two photographed images in which the area of ​​the tablet is the largest are the two images with the highest tablet area among the photographed images corresponding to one circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the tablet taken at a predetermined interval. Then, between the two photographed images in which the area of ​​the tablet is the largest, the photographed image immediately before the photographed image in which the transition (slope) of the tablet area changes from decreasing to increasing and the area of ​​the tablet is equal to or greater than the threshold is identified as an image capturing the front or back of the tablet from the front.

[0060] FIG. 24A shows the transition of the area of ​​the tablet when continuous images are taken of the flat tablet being rotated by the tablet rotation unit 441. As shown in FIG. 24A, the area of ​​the tablet in each of the captured images transitions between a maximum area a1 and a minimum area a2 as the tablet rotates in the tablet rotation unit 441. Specifically, when the front or back surface of the tablet bearing the identification information is slightly tilted relative to the camera 462 or 463 of the photographing unit 46, and both the front or back surface of the tablet and the side surface of the tablet are photographed, the area of ​​the tablet in the captured image becomes the maximum area a1. Furthermore, when only the side surface of the tablet is photographed, the area of ​​the tablet in the captured image becomes the minimum area a2. Note that, although the photographed images f1 to f9 shown in FIG. 24A are used as an example for explanation, the tablet packaging device 4 also photographs one or more images between each of the photographed images f1 to f9.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 24A, the captured images f1, f3, f5, f7, and f9 corresponding to times t1, t3, t5, t7, and t9, when the tablet's area reaches its maximum area a1, include the front or back surface of the tablet and a portion of the side surface. Furthermore, the captured images f2 and f6 corresponding to times t2 and t6, when the tablet's area reaches its minimum area a2, include only the side surface of the tablet. Furthermore, the captured images f4 and f8 corresponding to times t4 and t8, when the tablet's area is less than area a1 and greater than the predetermined area a3 for each type of tablet, include the front or back surface of the tablet. That is, one of the captured images f4 and f8 is an image capturing the front surface of the tablet from the front, and the other is an image capturing the back surface of the tablet from the front. The area a3 is smaller than area a1 and larger than area a2, and is a preset value that serves as an index for distinguishing between the area of ​​the front or back surface of the tablet and the area of ​​the side surface of the tablet. For example, the area a3 is a value that is smaller by a predetermined value than the area of ​​the front or back surface of the tablet when viewed from the front.

[0062] The control unit 40 then extracts the captured image with the smallest tablet area from among the captured images taken between two captured images in which the tablet area is the largest area a1 and in which the tablet area is less than area a1 and greater than or equal to area a3. Here, the control unit 40 specifies the odd-numbered extracted captured image from the extracted captured images as the captured image f4, and specifies the even-numbered extracted captured image as the captured image f8. The control unit 40 also specifies the captured image f4 as an image of the front surface of the tablet, and the captured image f8 as the back surface of the tablet.

[0063] This allows the control unit 40 to compare the captured images f4 and f8, which capture the front and back surfaces of the tablet from the front, with the normal images, or to read the tablet's identification information from the captured images f4 and f8 with high accuracy. It is possible that the image capturing time per tablet captured by the cameras 462 and 463 in the packaging process is set to be equal to or longer than the required time t1 to t9, for example, based on the tablet with the longest required time between t1 and t9 among the various tablets registered in the pharmaceutical master. This results in at least one captured image f4 and one captured image f8 being captured as images of the front and back surfaces of the tablet.

[0064] The control unit 40 may also identify the image captured at the timing when the smoothed value of the tablet area peaks when the areas of the tablets in each of the captured images are arranged in the order of capture of the images as the image of the front or back surface of the tablet. For example, the smoothed value is a simple moving average of the tablet area in multiple captured images. Figure 24B shows an example of the transition of the tablet area when continuous images are captured of a flat tablet being rotated by the tablet rotation unit 441. Figure 24B shows the results of a total of 20 captures taken at capture times t11 to t30. In Figure 24B, the solid line indicates the measured values ​​of the tablet area in the captured images captured at each of the capture times t11 to t30, and the dashed line indicates the smoothed value of the tablet area in the captured images captured at each of the capture times t11 to t30. 24B, since the smoothed value is a peak value at the photographing timing t19, the photographed image photographed at the photographing timing t19 is identified as a photographed image of the front or back of the tablet. More specifically, the odd-numbered peak values ​​of the smoothed values ​​are identified as photographed images of the front of the tablet, and the even-numbered peak values ​​are identified as photographed images of the back of the tablet.

[0065] The packaging unit 45 is capable of packaging tablets in a dosage unit supplied from either or both of the tablet cassette 41 and the manual distribution unit 42 via the rotary unit 44 in a medicine bag 451, which is a packaging material. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the medicine bag 451 dispensed from the tablet packaging device 4. As shown in Fig. 6, each medicine bag 451 contains a plurality of tablets in a dosage unit, and dotted perforation lines (perforations) 452 are formed between each medicine bag 451 to allow each medicine bag 451 to be easily separated.

[0066] The medicine packets 451 used for packaging in the packaging unit 45 or the packaging paper (roll paper) for forming the medicine packets 451 are consumables that are replenished or replaced as needed. The tablet packaging device 4 has a function for detecting the remaining amount of the medicine packets 451 or the packaging paper, and the control unit 40 notifies the server 2 of the remaining amount as appropriate. In the tablet packaging device 4, a blister pack or the like capable of containing tablets in a dosage unit may be used instead of the medicine packet 451. The blister pack is a packaging material in which a plurality of closed packaging sections are formed by joining a packaging member having a plurality of packaging areas with one side open to a flat member. In the tablet packaging device 4, the tablets contained in the tablet cassette 41 are also an example of consumables, and the tablet packaging device 4 has a function for detecting the remaining amount of tablets contained in the tablet cassette 41, and the control unit 40 also notifies the server 2 of the remaining amount as appropriate.

[0067] The packaging unit 45 is also provided with a printing unit 453 that prints information on each medicine packet 451, and the printing unit 453 can print information such as the patient's name, dosage time, prescribed drug, or prescribed amount on the surface of each medicine packet 451. The ink ribbon used for printing in the printing unit 453 is a consumable item that is replenished or replaced as needed. The tablet packaging device 4 has a function to detect the remaining amount of the ink ribbon, and the control unit 40 notifies the server 2 of the remaining amount as appropriate.

[0068] [Pharmacy equipment 5] The dispensing device 5, like the tablet packaging device 4, is used to dispense medications based on prescription data. In addition to the tablet packaging device 4, the dispensing device 5 also includes, for example, a powder medicine packaging device, a liquid medicine dispenser, a sheet dispensing device, and a picking assistance device. The powder medicine packaging device has multiple powder medicine cassettes containing multiple types of powder medicine and can automatically package the powder medicines contained in the powder medicine cassettes in predetermined amounts according to prescription data. The liquid medicine dispenser has multiple medicine bottles containing multiple types of liquid medicine and dispenses the required amount of liquid medicine from the medicine bottles according to prescription data. The sheet dispensing device dispenses tablets from multiple sheet cassettes containing pre-packaged PTP sheets or heat-sealed sheets according to prescription data. The picking assistance device is used when a pharmacist manually dispenses medication. It reads the drug name from identification information (e.g., a barcode) attached to a medicine shelf or medicine bottle and compares the read drug name with the drug name included in the prescription data.

[0069] In medical facilities such as hospitals and pharmacies, pharmacists carry out an inspection job to confirm whether the tablets packaged by the tablet packaging device 4 are appropriate and correspond to the prescription data. In contrast, the inspection support system 1 supports the inspection job of the pharmacist by executing an inspection support process (see FIG. 7) to be described later.

[0070] [Audit support processing] An example of the procedure for the inspection support process executed by the control unit 21 of the server 2 in the inspection support system 1 will be described below with reference to Figure 7. The inspection support process is executed when a login operation is performed on the client terminal 3 by a pharmacist with preset final inspection authority, or when an inspection start operation is performed to perform the final inspection process after the login operation. Note that the "display" and "operation" described below are performed using the display unit 33 and operation unit 34 of the client terminal 3 on which the login operation was performed.

[0071] <Step S11> First, in step S11, the control unit 21 displays an inspection waiting list screen D1 for displaying a list of prescription data to be inspected on the client terminal 3. Here, Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the inspection waiting list screen D1.

[0072] 8, the inspection waiting list screen D1 displays a list display area A11 in which a list of prescription data to be inspected is displayed. Specifically, the list display area A11 displays the prescription ID (prescription identification information), patient name (patient identification information), medication start date, and number of days included in the prescription data, as well as status information of a plurality of dispensing machines, such as the tablet packaging machine 4 and the dispensing machine 5, connected to the inspection support system 1.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 8, in the server 2, the powder medicine packaging device and the sheet dispensing device are pre-registered as No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, and the tablet packaging device 4 is pre-registered as No. 2. The status information is pre-categorized into "packaging completed," "dispensing completed," "packaging in progress," "operating," "waiting to start," and "out of stock," among others. "Packaging completed" and "dispensing completed" indicate that the drug dispensing has been completed, and the background or text is displayed in a first specific color, such as a predetermined blue. "Packaging in progress" and "operating" indicate that the drug dispensing is in progress, and are displayed together with the waiting time until completion. "Waiting to start" indicates a waiting state until the drug dispensing begins, and is displayed together with the waiting time until start. "Out of stock" indicates that dispensing cannot begin because consumables such as the drugs, the medicine packet 451, the packaging paper, or the ink ribbon used in dispensing based on prescription data are out of stock, and the background or text is displayed in a second specific color such as red, which has been determined in advance.

[0074] Furthermore, the inspection waiting list screen D1 displays operation keys K11 to K12 and the like for accepting user operations. The operation key K11 is an operation key for displaying an inspection history screen D2 for displaying the inspection history in the server 2, and the operation key K12 is an operation unit for displaying an inspection screen D3 (an example of a first display screen) for executing inspection processing in the server 2. That is, the control unit 21 can start inspection of medications dispensed by a plurality of dispensing machines, such as the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing machine 5, in response to an operation on the inspection waiting list screen D1.

[0075] <Step S12> In step S12, the control unit 21 determines whether or not a display operation for the inspection history screen D2 has been performed. Specifically, the control unit 21 determines that a display operation for the inspection history screen D2 has been performed when the operation key K11 on the inspection waiting list screen D1 has been operated. If the control unit 21 determines that a display operation for the inspection history screen D2 has been performed (S12: Yes), it proceeds to step S13, and if a display operation for the inspection history screen D2 has not been performed (S12: No), it proceeds to step S14.

[0076] <Step S13> In step S13, the control unit 21 displays the inspection history screen D2 on the client terminal 3. In this way, the control unit 21 can display the inspection history for dispensing performed by a plurality of dispensing machines, such as the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing machine 5, in response to a user operation on the inspection waiting list screen D1.

[0077] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the inspection history screen D2. As shown in FIG. 9, the inspection history screen D2 includes a list display area A21 displaying a list of prescription data for which inspection has already been completed. The list display area A21 displays information included in the prescription data, such as the prescription ID (prescription identification information), patient name (patient identification information), medication start date, inspector, and inspection date and time. The list display area A21 also displays the inspection results of the drugs dispensed by the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 connected to the inspection support system 1, such as "OK" indicating that the judgment result was appropriate or "NG" indicating that the judgment result was incorrect. Specifically, the inspection result corresponding to the tablet packaging device 4 is the result of the automatic inspection process. Note that "OK" is displayed with a background or text in a predetermined third specific color, such as blue, and "NG" is displayed with a background or text in a predetermined fourth specific color, such as red. Furthermore, when "NG" is displayed, the content of the action taken in response to the judgment result being an error (for example, "corrected") is displayed.

[0078] The inspection history screen D2 also displays an operation key K21 for selecting either "patient ID" or "period" as a search item, an input field K22 for inputting search details for the item selected with the operation key K21, and an operation key K23 for executing the search. When search details are input in the input field K22 and the "execute search" operation key is operated, the control unit 21 searches for prescription data corresponding to the search details and displays them in the list display area A21. The inspection history screen D2 also displays an operation key K24 for displaying an inspection screen similar to an inspection screen D3 (described later) that displays details of the inspection history of the prescription data displayed in the list display area A21.

[0079] <Step S14> In step S14, the control unit 21 determines whether the inspection start operation has been performed. Specifically, the control unit 21 determines that the inspection start operation has been performed when the operation key K12 is operated with the prescription data selected on the inspection waiting list screen D1. If the control unit 21 determines that the inspection start operation has been performed (S14: Yes), it shifts the process to step S15, and if the inspection start operation has not been performed (S14: No), it shifts the process to step S16.

[0080] <Step S15> In step S15, the control unit 21 causes the client terminal 3 to display the inspection screen D3 for inspecting the prescription data selected on the inspection waiting list screen D1. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the inspection screen D3. As shown in FIG. 10, the inspection screen D3 displays a basic information area A31, an inspection result area A32, and a device information area A33. The basic information area A31 displays information such as the prescription ID (prescription identification information), patient name (patient identification information), sex, age, date of administration, and usage included in the prescription data.

[0081] The inspection result area A32 displays the contents of the prescription data selected on the inspection waiting list screen D1, the inspection results for the prescription data, and the like for each record (Rp1 to Rp3). Specifically, the inspection result area A32 displays the drug name, dosage, form, dispensing machine number, dosage, and judgment result. Note that the judgment result is the judgment result of suitability in the automatic inspection process executed in each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing machine 5, such as the automatic inspection process executed in the tablet packaging device 4, and is input to the server 2 from each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing machine 5 as appropriate. The automatic inspection process may also be executed by the control unit 21 of the server 2, which acquires various information such as images from the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing machine 5. Specifically, in the server 2, the control unit 21 stores in the storage unit 22 the inspection results of the dispensing process performed by each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5, in association with prescription identification information such as the prescription ID of the prescription data. The control unit 21 can then display the inspection results for each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 associated with the prescription ID of the prescription data all together on a single screen, such as the inspection result area A32 of the inspection screen D3. This allows the user to collectively check the inspection results for multiple dispensing devices 5, including the tablet packaging device 4, that dispense medication based on the prescription data. For example, on the inspection screen D3 shown in FIG. 10, Rp1 may represent a drug dispensed by the tablet packaging device 4, Rp2 may represent a drug dispensed by the powder medicine packaging device of the dispensing device 5, and Rp3 may represent a drug dispensed by the sheet dispensing device of the dispensing device 5.

[0082] The device information area A33 displays remaining amount information of consumables in the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 connected to the server 2. The remaining amount information of consumables displayed in the device information area A33 is appropriately input to the server 2 from each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5, or is read by the server 2 from each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5. This allows the user to easily check the remaining amounts of consumables in the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, the remaining amount of "packaging paper" for the tablet packaging device 4 of "No. 2" is shown to be low and the remaining amount of "ink ribbon" is sufficient. Similarly, the remaining amount of "packaging paper" for the powder medicine packaging device of "No. 1" is shown to be sufficient and the remaining amount of "ink ribbon" is low. In this way, the control unit 21 can display a list of information on consumables for multiple dispensing machines, such as the tablet packaging machine 4 and the dispensing machine 5, on the inspection screen D3. This allows the user to easily manage all consumables for the inspection support system 1. This allows the arrangement of all consumables to be completed without any omissions, and enables continuous operation of multiple dispensing machines, such as the tablet packaging machine 4 and the dispensing machine 5, even with a small number of people.

[0083] <Step S16> In step S16, the control unit 21 determines whether a detail confirmation operation has been performed to confirm details of the judgment result displayed on the inspection screen D3. Specifically, the control unit 21 determines that the detail confirmation operation has been performed when a display location of the judgment result corresponding to any of the records included in the prescription data displayed on the inspection screen D3 has been selected. Here, if the control unit 21 determines that the detail confirmation operation has been performed (S16: Yes), it proceeds to step S17, and if the detail confirmation operation has not been performed (S16: No), it proceeds to step S18.

[0084] <Step S17> In step S17, the control unit 21 displays an inspection details screen D31 (an example of a second display screen) that displays details of the judgment result displayed on the inspection screen D3. The display of the inspection screen D3 and the inspection details screen D31 is executed by the inspection display processing unit 211 of the control unit 21.

[0085] 11 is a diagram showing an example of the inspection details screen D31. As shown in Fig. 11, the inspection details screen D31 displays the basic information area A31, prescription information area A35, dispensing details area A36, and NG list area A37. The prescription information area A35 displays the prescription information of the record corresponding to the judgment result, such as the drug name (drug identification information), the number of tablets for each dosing period, and an image of the drug.

[0086] The dispensing details area A36 displays the contents of the tablets packaged in the medicine packet 451 corresponding to the dosing time (number of tablets for each dosing time) on each dosing date. More specifically, the control unit 21 displays the photographed images of the tablets in the dispensing details area A36 of the inspection details screen D31 in an arrangement format in which the dosing date is displayed on one side of a column or a row and the dosing time is displayed on the other side.

[0087] In particular, the control unit 21 displays the photographed images of the tablets in the package corresponding to each combination of the administration date and the administration time in a predetermined display order parallel to the order of the administration times in a display area corresponding to each combination. For example, the display order of the photographed images of the tablets is the same order as the order in which the photographed images of the tablets are displayed in the prescription information section A35. In the dispensing details area A36 displayed in this manner, if the judgment result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate, photographed images of tablets of the same type will be arranged in the order of the administration dates (horizontal direction in FIG. 11). Therefore, the pharmacist can easily check the appropriateness of each photographed image of the tablets.

[0088] Furthermore, in the dispensing details area A36, if the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the background of the display area for the photographed image of the tablet that caused the error is displayed in a predetermined fifth specific color, such as red. That is, the control unit 21 displays the photographed image of the tablet that caused the error in the dispensing details area A36 in an identifiable manner. This displays the photographed images of the tablets in individual packages and the results of the automatic inspection process, thereby improving the efficiency of the pharmacist's inspection work. In particular, by referring to the display in the fifth specific color, the pharmacist can easily identify and confirm the photographed image of the tablet that caused the error.

[0089] The NG list area A37 displays a list of errors occurring in the dispensing details area A36. Specifically, if the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 21 displays a list of the cause of the error along with the date and time of administration of the tablet that caused the error. This processing is executed by the list display processing unit 212 of the control unit 21. This allows the pharmacist to easily understand the cause of the error and the date and time of administration of the tablet by referring to the list display. The cause of the error displayed in the NG list area A37 is identified by either the tablet packaging device 4, the dispensing machine 5, or the server 2 based on the result of the automatic inspection process. For example, if tablets different from those that should be packaged in the medicine package 451 according to the prescription data are contained in the medicine package 451, the cause of the error is identified as "mispackaging." In addition, if there is a shortage of tablets that should be packaged in the medicine bag 451 and the missing tablets are contained in medicine bags 451 that are adjacent to and before the medicine bag 451, the cause of the error is identified as ``backward deviation.''

[0090] In addition, on the inspection details screen D31, photographed images of the tablets contained in all of the medicine packages 451 are displayed in the dispensing details area A36, but it is also possible to display, for example, as in the NG list area A37, the administration date, administration time, photographed images of the tablets, etc. corresponding only to the medicine packages 451 for which the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, and not display information about the medicine packages 451 for which the result of the automatic inspection process is correct. This allows the user to easily grasp only the points that need to be checked by looking at the inspection details screen D31, thereby making the inspection work more efficient.

[0091] Furthermore, the inspection details screen D31 displays operation units such as operation keys K33, K34, input field K35, operation key K36, and check boxes K37, together with the dispensing details area A36. The operation units are an example of an operation unit for individually re-executing part or all of the dispensing process based on the prescription data that was executed by the tablet packaging device 4, and the display of the operation units is executed by the operation display processing unit 213 of the control unit 21. Specifically, in the tablet packaging device 4, a packaging process is executed as the dispensing process, and the operation unit is an operation unit for re-executing part or all of the packaging process.

[0092] The operation key K33 is an example of a first operation unit for re-executing all dispensing processes (packaging processes) corresponding to the record. The operation key K34 is an example of a second operation unit for re-executing a part of the dispensing processes (packaging processes) corresponding to the record that was determined to be an error in the automatic inspection process. The input field K35 and the operation key K36 are an example of a third operation unit for re-executing a part of the dispensing processes (packaging processes) corresponding to the record that is selected by a user operation on the input field K35. In the input field K35, it is possible to specify the range (package number to package number) of the medicine packages 451 for which the dispensing process is to be re-executed, or to specify only specific medicine packages 451. As a result, as will be described later, the pharmacist can selectively use two or three of the operation key K33, the operation key K34, the input field K35, and the operation key K36 to cause the tablet packaging device 4 to perform part or all of the packaging process at will.

[0093] The check box K37 is an operation key for setting not to retry dispensing the medicine that caused the error if the cause of the error is "delay." When the check box K37 is checked, the control unit 21 will not retry dispensing the medicine that caused the error by "delay," even if the operation key K33, the operation key K34, or the operation key K36 is operated. This allows, for example, when a "delay" error occurs in the tablet packaging device 4, to accommodate an operation in which a pharmacist manually moves tablets between the front and rear medicine packets 451.

[0094] <Step S18> In step S18, the control unit 21 determines whether an approval operation has been performed on the result of the automatic inspection process of the prescription data. Specifically, the control unit 21 determines whether the approval key K31 displayed on the inspection screen D3 has been operated. Here, if the control unit 21 determines that the approval operation has been performed (S18: Yes), it shifts the process to step S19, and if the approval operation has not been performed (S19: No), it shifts the process to step S20.

[0095] <Step S19> In step S19, the control unit 21 executes an approval process for approving the result of the automatic inspection process of the prescription data. For example, in the approval process, the control unit 21 stores in the storage unit 22, in association with the prescription data, the fact that the result of the automatic inspection process of the prescription data has been approved and the identification information (name or ID) of the user who is the pharmacist who performed the approval operation, together with the result of the automatic inspection process.

[0096] <Step S20> Then, in step S20, the control unit 21 determines whether or not a full reissue operation has been performed on the inspection details screen D31. Specifically, if the operation key K33 displayed on the inspection details screen D31 is operated, it is determined that the full reissue operation has been performed. Here, if the control unit 21 determines that the full reissue operation has been performed (S20: Yes), it shifts the process to step S21, and if the full reissue operation has not been performed (S20: No), it shifts the process to step S22.

[0097] <Step S21> In step S21, the control unit 21 transmits a control instruction to the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing machine 5 that executed the dispensing process to re-execute all of the dispensing processes corresponding to the record that corresponds to the determination result. For example, as the control instruction, prescription data for dispensing corresponding to the record is re-input into the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing machine 5. As a result, in the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing machine 5, all of the dispensing processes corresponding to the record are re-executed. For example, in the tablet packaging device 4, all of the tablet packaging processes corresponding to the record are re-executed.

[0098] <Step S22> In step S22, the control unit 21 determines whether an operation to reissue only NG packets has been performed on the inspection details screen D31. Specifically, when the operation key K34 displayed on the inspection details screen D31 is operated, it determines that an operation to reissue only NG packets has been performed. Here, if the control unit 21 determines that an operation to reissue only NG packets has been performed (S22: Yes), it proceeds to step S23, and if an operation to reissue only NG packets has not been performed (S22: No), it proceeds to step S24.

[0099] <Step S23> In step S23, the control unit 21 transmits a control instruction to the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing machine 5 that executed the dispensing process to re-execute only the dispensing process (NG packaging) in which an error has occurred among the dispensing corresponding to the record corresponding to the determination result. For example, as the control instruction, part of the prescription data for dispensing corresponding to the record, which corresponds to the dispensing process in which the error has occurred, is re-input into the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing machine 5. As a result, in the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing machine 5, only the part of the dispensing process in which the error has occurred is re-executed. For example, in the tablet packaging device 4, part of the tablet packaging process corresponding to the record is re-executed.

[0100] <Step S24> In step S24, the control unit 21 determines whether an operation to reissue only the designated package has been performed on the inspection details screen D31. Specifically, if the operation key K36 displayed on the inspection details screen D31 is operated, it determines that an operation to reissue only the designated package has been performed. Here, if the control unit 21 determines that an operation to reissue only the designated package has been performed (S24: Yes), it proceeds to step S25, and if an operation to reissue only the designated package has not been performed (S24: No), it proceeds to step S26.

[0101] <Step S25> In step S25, the control unit 21 transmits a control instruction to the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing machine 5 that executed the dispensing process to re-execute only the dispensing process (specified packaging) specified in the input field K35 out of the dispensing corresponding to the record corresponding to the determination result. For example, as the control instruction, part of the prescription data for dispensing corresponding to the record, which corresponds to the dispensing process specified in the input field K35, is re-input into the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing machine 5. As a result, in the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing machine 5, only the part of the dispensing process specified in the input field K35 is re-executed. For example, in the tablet packaging device 4, part of the tablet packaging process corresponding to the record is re-executed.

[0102] <Step S26> In step S26, the control unit 21 determines whether a preset inspection termination operation for terminating the inspection support process has been performed. For example, the control unit 21 determines that the inspection termination operation has been performed when the operation key corresponding to "End" on the inspection waiting list screen D1 is operated. Here, if the control unit 21 determines that the inspection termination operation has been performed (S26: Yes), it terminates the inspection support process, and if the inspection termination operation has not been performed (S26: No), it returns the process to step S12.

[0103] As described above, in the inspection support system 1, the control unit 21 executes the processes of steps S20 to S25, thereby making it possible to cause the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 to individually re-execute part or all of the dispensing processes that have already been executed in each of them. Here, such processes are executed by the re-execution processing unit 214 of the control unit 21. This can improve the work efficiency of pharmacists in hospitals, pharmacies, etc. where the inspection support system 1 is used.

[0104] For example, with respect to the tablet packaging device 4, the automatic inspection process is performed based on the prescription data and the tablet identification information read from the image of the tablet taken by the photographing unit 46, or the automatic inspection process is performed based on the image of the tablet taken by the photographing unit 46 and the correct image, and the packaging process can be re-executed for each medicine packet 451 by an arbitrary operation of the user corresponding to the execution result of the automatic inspection process. Therefore, the effort of the pharmacist to perform a final inspection of the medicine packets 451 dispensed from the tablet packaging device 4 can be eliminated, and the efficiency of the pharmacist's inspection work can be improved.

[0105] In this embodiment, the control unit 21 has been mainly described as re-executing dispensing in the tablet packaging device 4, but the control unit 21 can arbitrarily re-execute some or all of the dispensing performed in multiple dispensing devices such as the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 in accordance with user operations on the inspection screen D3 or the inspection details screen D31 that is displayed in accordance with user operations on the inspection screen D3.

[0106] For example, if the dispensing device 5 is a powder medicine packaging device, the control unit 21 can re-execute part or all of the powder medicine packaging process performed by the powder medicine packaging device. The powder medicine packaging device includes a powder medicine cassette containing powder medicine, a feeder that automatically dispenses a predetermined amount from the powder medicine cassette, a dispensing unit that distributes the powder medicine dispensed from the powder medicine cassette by the feeder according to dosage periods, and a packaging unit that packages the powder medicine distributed by the dispensing unit according to dosage periods in packaging paper. The dispensing unit includes, for example, a rotating disk on which the powder medicine supplied from the feeder is placed and a scraping member that scrapes out the powder medicine placed on the rotating disk in predetermined amounts. In the powder medicine packaging device, for example, a predetermined amount of powder medicine is supplied from the feeder while the rotating disk is stopped, and the powder medicine is scraped out by the scraping member, thereby packaging the powder medicine in individual packets.

[0107] [Other embodiments] Other functions provided in the audit support system 1 or other embodiments of the audit support system 1 will be described below.

[0108] [Repackaging verification function] As described in the embodiment, the control unit 21 can cause the tablet packaging device 4 to re-execute part or all of the packaging process corresponding to the record of the prescription data in response to a user operation on the inspection details screen D31. In this case, the control unit 21 may be provided with a re-packaging verification function for verifying the medicine package 451 re-executed by the tablet packaging device 4.

[0109] For example, after requesting the tablet packaging device 4 to re-execute the packaging process, the control unit 21 may display a verification screen D32, as shown in Fig. 12, superimposed on the inspection details screen D31, prompting the user to read code information (one-dimensional code or two-dimensional code) printed on the medicine package 451 after the re-execution of dispensing. Then, if the code information read from the medicine package 451 using the code reading unit 27 of the server 2 or the code reading unit 37 of the client terminal 3 is correct, the control unit 21 changes the dispensing result of the record to "corrected." As a result, when the inspection history screen D2 is displayed, the record is displayed as "NG → Corrected."

[0110] For example, the appropriateness of the code information is determined based on whether or not both the code information of the medicine package 451 before the re-execution and the code information of the medicine package 451 after the re-execution have been read. The appropriateness of the code information may also be determined based on whether or not the code information of the medicine package 451 before and after the medicine package 451 to be re-executed, among the multiple medicine package 451 obtained as a packaging result corresponding to the record, has been read. This prevents errors in the replacement position of the medicine package 451 before and after the re-execution. The appropriateness of the code information may also be determined based on whether or not both the code information printed on the first and / or last medicine package 451 before the re-execution and the code information printed on the medicine package 451 after the re-execution have been read.

[0111] [Progress monitor function] The control unit 21 may have a progress monitor function that can appropriately check images of tablets taken along the path of tablets supplied from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual distribution unit 42 to the packaging unit 45, using the cameras 461 to 467 of the photographing unit 46 of the tablet packaging device 4. Specifically, the photographed images of the tablets taken by the photographing unit 46 are transmitted from the tablet packaging device 4 to the server 2 and stored in the memory unit 22 of the server 2.

[0112] The control unit 21 is capable of displaying a progress monitor screen D4 on the client terminal 4, which is displayed on an operation screen such as the inspection screen D3 or the inspection details screen D31, and which displays images of the tablets taken by the cameras 461 to 467 of the photographing unit 46 when an operation key (not shown) corresponding to the progress monitor function is operated.

[0113] This allows the user to easily confirm the location and cause of the error if an error occurs in the dispensing of medication by the tablet packaging device 4 by checking the images of the tablets taken by the photographing unit 46 at each point in time when the tablets are dispensed by the tablet packaging device 4.

[0114] Here, Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the progress monitor screen D4. The progress monitor screen D4 shown in Fig. 13 displays an image display area A41 and a guidance display area A42 together with the basic information area A31 and the prescription information area A35. In the image display area A41, photographed images of tablets taken by the cameras 461 to 467 of the photographing unit 46 are displayed in association with the identification codes of the cameras 461 to 467. Specifically, the image display area A41 includes a display area A411 in which the photographed image of the tablet taken by the camera 461 is displayed, a display area A412 in which the photographed images of the tablets taken by the cameras 464 to 466 are displayed, a display area A413 in which the photographed images of the tablets taken by the cameras 462 and 463 are displayed, and a display area A414 in which the photographed image of the tablet taken by the camera 467 is displayed. Furthermore, the guidance display area A42 displays guidance information for indicating the locations where images are taken by the cameras 461 to 467 in the tablet dispensing and packaging device 4. This allows the user to easily understand the position of the image displayed in the image display area A41.

[0115] When storing the photographed images in the storage unit 22, the control unit 21 stores each photographed image in association with prescription identification information such as the prescription ID of the prescription data that was the target of the packaging process when the photographed image was captured. This allows the control unit 21 to display each photographed image corresponding to the specified prescription ID when the prescription ID of the prescription data is specified, even after the packaging process and the inspection support process are completed.

[0116] [Manual distribution check monitor function] The control unit 21 also has a manual distribution confirmation monitor function for confirming the state of tablets after the manual distribution operation in the manual distribution unit 42. Specifically, when tablets are packaged using the manual distribution unit 42, the tablet packaging device 4 takes an image of the manual distribution unit 42 using the camera 464 after the tablets have been manually distributed to the manual distribution unit 42.

[0117] For example, in the tablet packaging device 4, when an operation key is operated to input information that the manual distribution of tablets to the manual distribution unit 42 has been completed, the control unit 40 uses the camera 464 to take an image of the manual distribution unit 42. Furthermore, if the manual distribution unit 42 is configured to be pulled out of the tablet packaging device 4 when in use, and then stored in the tablet packaging device 4 after the tablets have been distributed, it is also possible that the camera 464 is provided inside the tablet packaging device 4, and the control unit 40 uses the camera 464 to take an image of the manual distribution unit 42 when the manual distribution unit 42 is stored in the tablet packaging device 4.

[0118] The tablet packing device 4 then transmits the manual packing image taken by the camera 464 to the server 2 together with information for identifying the prescription data. As a result, in the server 2, the control unit 21 associates the manual packing image with the prescription data and stores it in the memory unit 22. Note that the dispensing management device 2 may be configured to read out the manual packing image stored in the tablet packing device 4.

[0119] Meanwhile, when an operation key (not shown) corresponding to a manual distribution confirmation monitor function, which is displayed on an operation screen such as the inspection screen D3 or the inspection details screen D31, is operated, the control unit 21 reads out the manual distribution image corresponding to the currently displayed prescription data from the storage unit 22. Then, the control unit 21 causes a manual distribution confirmation screen D5 on which the manual distribution image is displayed to be displayed on the client terminal 3. This allows the user, when an error occurs in dispensing by the tablet packaging device 4, to check the manual distribution image captured by the camera 464 regarding the dispensing of tablets in the tablet packaging device 4, and easily confirm whether the cause of the error was the wrong tablets being distributed to the manual distribution unit 42.

[0120] Here, Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the manual distribution confirmation monitor screen D5. The manual distribution confirmation monitor screen D5 shown in Fig. 14 displays a manual distribution unit image area A51 and an operation instruction area A52, along with the basic information area A31 and the prescription information area A35. The manual distribution unit image area A51 displays the manual distribution image of the manual distribution unit 42 taken from above by the camera 464. This allows the user to check the state of the tablets immediately after they have been manually distributed into the manual distribution unit 42.

[0121] The operation instruction area A52 displays an explanation of the operation content in the manual distribution unit image area A51. For example, the operation instruction area A52 displays, together with finger gestures and images, an explanation that an image is enlarged by a pinch-out operation and that an image is reduced by a pinch-in operation.

[0122] [Cassette filling monitor function] The control unit 21 also has a cassette filling monitor function for checking the status of the tablet cassette 41 during the tablet filling operation. Specifically, the tablet packaging device 4 may include a workbench for filling tablets into the tablet cassette 41, and a camera for taking an image of the tablet cassette 41 placed on the workbench. The workbench is provided in front of the tablet packaging device 4, and as shown in FIG. 15 , is pulled out from the tablet packaging device 4 when tablets are filled into the tablet cassette 41, and can be stored within the tablet packaging device 4 when not in use. In the tablet packaging device 4, the control unit 40 uses the camera to take an image of the tablet cassette 41 when tablets are filled into the tablet cassette 41.

[0123] For example, when an operation key for inputting information that the tablet filling operation into the tablet cassette 41 has been completed is operated in the tablet packing device 4, the control unit 40 uses the camera to take an image of the tablet cassette 41. Then, the tablet packing device 4 transmits the cassette image taken by the camera to the server 2 together with medicine identification information such as the tablet name for identifying the tablet. As a result, in the server 2, the control unit 21 associates the cassette image with the tablet and stores it in the memory unit 22. Note that the dispensing management device 2 may be configured to read out the cassette image stored in the tablet packing device 4.

[0124] On the other hand, when a tablet to be displayed is selected on an operation screen such as the inspection screen D3 or the inspection details screen D31, and then an operation key (not shown) corresponding to a cassette filling monitor function displayed on the operation screen is operated, the control unit 21 reads out the cassette image corresponding to that tablet from the storage unit 22. Then, the control unit 21 causes a cassette filling monitor screen D6 on which the cassette image is displayed to be displayed on the client terminal 3. This allows the user, when an error occurs in the packaging process by the tablet packaging device 4, to check the cassette image captured by the camera and easily confirm whether the cause of the error is incorrect tablet filling into the tablet cassette 41.

[0125] For example, when a specific tablet type is selected on an operation screen such as the inspection screen D3 or the inspection details screen D31, the control unit 21 displays the inspection results for the selected tablet type on a pop-up screen D25 shown in FIG. 25. The pop-up screen D25 displays tablets with an error in the inspection result in a manner that makes them identifiable. For example, the background area A251 of a tablet with an error in the inspection result is displayed in red. When the operation key K251 corresponding to the cassette filling monitor function is operated on the pop-up screen D25, the control unit 21 displays a cassette filling monitor screen D6 that displays the cassette image corresponding to the tablet.

[0126] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the cassette filling monitor screen D6. The cassette filling monitor screen D6 shown in FIG. 15 displays a cassette image area A61 along with the basic information area A31, the prescription information area A35, and the operation instruction area A52. The cassette image area A61 displays the cassette image of the tablet cassette 41 photographed from above by the camera. This allows the user to check the status of tablets being filled into the tablet cassette 41. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a cassette filling monitor screen D26, which is another example of the cassette filling monitor screen D6. The cassette filling monitor screen D26 displays the cassette image in the cassette image area A61, similar to the cassette filling monitor screen D6, and also displays information such as the person who filled the tablet cassette 41 and the last filling date and time.

[0127] [Another example of the audit screen] Here, as other examples of the inspection details screen D31 displayed on the client terminal 3 by the control unit 21, we will explain the inspection details screen D301 related to the first display form and the inspection details screen D302 related to the second display form.

[0128] [First display form of the audit screen] 16 and 17 are diagrams showing an inspection details screen D301, which is another example of the inspection details screen D31. Note that Fig. 16 shows the inspection details screen D301 when the inspection results are appropriate, and Fig. 17 shows the inspection details screen D301 when an error has occurred in the inspection results.

[0129] 16 and 17, the inspection details screen D301 displays a basic information area A311, a dispensing details area A312, and an inspection result area A313. The basic information area A31, like the basic information area A31, is an area where patient information, prescription data, etc. are displayed. The dispensing details area A312 is displayed in place of the dispensing details area A36, and displays the contents of the tablets packaged in the medicine packet 451 in units of the medicine packet 451.

[0130] More specifically, the dispensing details area A312 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 displays the drug name, type, result, and correct image. Specifically, the type indicates whether the tablet corresponding to the drug name was dispensed from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual dispensing unit 42. For example, if the tablet was dispensed from the tablet cassette 41, an identification code such as "C" or "Ka" is displayed. If the tablet was dispensed from the manual dispensing unit (Detachable Tablet Adapter) 45, an identification code such as "D" or "Te" is displayed. The result also indicates whether the inspection result for the tablet corresponding to the drug name is correct or not. The correct image is a registered image previously registered in the drug master as a correct image of the tablet. For example, the drug master stores two registered images corresponding to each tablet, one for the front and one for the back. The registered image may be a single image of the outer periphery of the tablet, capturing an area containing the tablet's identification information.

[0131] In addition, in the dispensing details area A312, photographed images of the tablets photographed by the photographing unit 46 before being packaged in each of the medicine packets 451 are displayed in association with each tablet. Here, the control unit 21 displays the photographed images of the tablets corresponding to each combination of the tablet name and the packaging order in an arrangement format in which the tablet name (drug name) is displayed in one column or row and the packaging order (first package, second package, etc.) is displayed in the other. Note that in the dispensing details area A312 shown in Figures 16 and 17, the tablet names are displayed vertically and the packaging order is displayed horizontally. In this way, photographed images of the tablets of the same type are arranged in the packaging order direction, so that the pharmacist can easily check the appropriateness of each photographed image of the tablet.

[0132] Furthermore, the control unit 21 displays, for each tablet, multiple captured images corresponding to different outer peripheral surfaces of the tablet, which images were captured for each tablet by the tablet packaging device 4, including at least the original image from which the tablet's identification information was read by the tablet packaging device 4 or the original image compared with the correct image. This allows a pharmacist to determine the appropriateness of a tablet by referring to multiple captured images of the tablet, for example, when it is difficult to determine the appropriateness of the tablet based on only one captured image of the tablet. Furthermore, in the dispensing details area A312, the correct image of the tablet and the captured images of the tablet are displayed side by side, so the pharmacist can easily determine the appropriateness of the tablet by comparing the registered image of the tablet with the captured images of the tablet.

[0133] For example, in the dispensing details area A312 shown in Fig. 16, two photographed images of each of three tablets, "Transamin Capsules 250 mg," "Cepharanthine Tablets 1 mg," and "Reflex Tablets 15 mg," are displayed as photographed images of the tablets packaged in the first medicine packet 451. In this case, if the tablet is a flat tablet, two images of the front and back sides of the tablet are displayed, and if the tablet is in the shape of a capsule or the like, two images of the side containing the tablet's identification information and the side not containing the tablet's identification information are displayed.

[0134] The control unit 21 also acquires the identification information contained in the photographed image of the tablet and detects the inclination of the characters contained in the identification information. The control unit 21 then rotates and corrects the photographed image of the tablet so that the top and bottom of the characters contained in the identification information are aligned with the top and bottom of the inspection details screen D301, and displays the photographed image of the tablet in the dispensing details area A312. That is, the control unit 21 displays the photographed image of the tablet with the orientation of the characters of the tablet identification information aligned. This allows the user to easily confirm the tablet identification information along with the image of each tablet. The rotation and correction of the photographed image of the tablet may be performed by the tablet packaging device 4.

[0135] Furthermore, when the number of the medicine packets 451 exceeds the number that can be simultaneously displayed in the dispensing details area A312, a scroll key K311 is displayed in the dispensing details area A312, and the control unit 21 scrolls and displays information on the number of packets of the medicine packets 451 displayed in the dispensing details area A312 in response to an operation of the scroll key K311. Furthermore, in the dispensing details area A312, it is also possible to display the date and time of administration together with the packet number information such as 1st packet, 2nd packet, etc. that indicates the number of packets of the medicine packets 451, or instead of the packet number information.

[0136] 17, in the dispensing details area A312, if the result of the automatic inspection process is an error for a drug included in the prescription data record displayed on the inspection details screen D301, the background of one or more areas A314 corresponding to that drug is displayed in a sixth specific color such as a predetermined red. This allows the user to easily identify the drug for which the result of the automatic inspection process is an error by checking the position of the area A314.

[0137] 17 shows a case where the area A314 is set as a display area for the drug name, the photographed image of the tablet, and the order of the drug packages 451 in the dispensing details area A312. Furthermore, when the number of drug packages 451 exceeds the number that can be displayed simultaneously in the dispensing details area A312 and there is a drug for which the automatic inspection process has resulted in an error, the control unit 21 automatically moves the scroll key K311 to display information corresponding to the drug package 451 in which the error has occurred in the dispensing details area A312.

[0138] The inspection result area A313 also displays the results of the automatic inspection process for the dispensing of all drugs included in the prescription data record displayed on the inspection details screen D301. Specifically, in Fig. 16, "OK," indicating that the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate, is displayed against a background of a predetermined seventh specific color, such as blue, and in Fig. 17, "NG," indicating that the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, is displayed against a background of a predetermined eighth specific color, such as red, which is different from the seventh specific color. This allows the user to easily understand the appropriateness of the inspection results for the entire record by checking the inspection result area A313.

[0139] In particular, the dispensing details area A312 displays the results of the inspection process for each tablet included in the record of the prescription data. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 17, for "Transamin Capsules 250 mg" and "Cepharanthine Tablets 1 mg," an "O" is displayed indicating that the inspection process results are correct, while for "Reflex Tablets 15 mg," an "X" is displayed indicating that an error has occurred in the inspection process. This allows the pharmacist to easily identify, for example, the tablets for which the inspection process results have caused an error.

[0140] When a selection operation is performed on the photographed image of the tablet displayed in the dispensing details area A312, the control unit 21 can display, on the client terminal 3, an enlarged screen D33, which enlarges the photographed image of the tablet that is the target of the selection operation and displays it as an enlarged image P331, as shown in FIG. 18. Furthermore, on the enlarged screen D33, an enlarged image obtained by enlarging the normal image corresponding to the tablet that is the target of the selection operation and the enlarged image P331 may be displayed side by side, either vertically or horizontally. The enlarged screen D33 displays the packing order (packet number) of the medicine package 451 into which the tablet selected by the selection operation is packaged, allowing the user to easily understand which package number of the medicine package 451 the tablet being checked is packaged in. Furthermore, the control unit 21 may change the tablets displayed on the enlarged screen D33 according to the packing order of the medicine package 451 in response to a predetermined user operation, such as a flick operation in the up-down or left-right direction on the enlarged screen D33. For example, when the enlarged screen D33 displays tablets packed in the seventh medicine packet 451, tablets packed in the sixth or eighth medicine packet 451 are displayed in response to the predetermined user operation. Note that the control unit 21 may also sequentially display only the tablets causing the error in response to the predetermined user operation. The control unit 21 may also switch the medicine packet 451 to be displayed in response to a flick operation in either the up-down or left-right direction on the enlarged screen D33, and switch the type of tablets to be displayed to other tablets packed in the same package in response to the other flick operation.

[0141] [Second display format of the audit screen] 19 and 20 are diagrams showing an inspection details screen D302, which is another example of the inspection details screen D31. Note that Fig. 19 shows the inspection details screen D302 when the inspection results are correct, and Fig. 20 shows the inspection details screen D302 when an error has occurred in the inspection results.

[0142] As shown in Figures 19 and 20, the inspection details screen D302 displays the basic information area A311 and the inspection result area A313, which are similar to those of the inspection details screen D301, and also displays the dispensing details area A322 instead of the dispensing details area A312.

[0143] More specifically, the dispensing details area A322 shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 displays the drug name, type, result, and original image, similar to the dispensing details area A312. On the other hand, unlike the dispensing details area A312, the dispensing details area A322 displays only one image containing the tablet's identification information as the captured image of the tablet. This allows for an increased number of packets that can be simultaneously displayed in the dispensing details area A322. This is because, in general, the tablet's identification information can be confirmed by viewing the outer periphery of the drug from one direction, and images of other outer peripheries are often not necessary.

[0144] Furthermore, when a selection operation of the photographed image of the tablet displayed in the dispensing details area A322 is performed, the control unit 21 can display on the client terminal 3 an enlarged screen D34 for enlarging the photographed image of the tablet that is the target of the selection operation and displaying it as an enlarged image P341, as shown in FIG. 21. Furthermore, the control unit 21 displays, on the enlarged screen D34, an enlarged image P342 obtained by enlarging an image including the identification information among the normal images corresponding to the tablet that is the target of the selection operation, together with the enlarged image P341. The arrangement direction of the enlarged image P341 and the enlarged image P342 may be either vertical or horizontal. Furthermore, as the enlarged image P342, a plurality of images previously registered as the normal images corresponding to the tablet that is the target of the selection operation may be displayed.

[0145] In addition, in the dispensing details area A322, it is also possible to display the date and time of administration together with or instead of package number information such as 1st package, 2nd package, etc., which indicates the number of packages in the medicine package 451. Furthermore, it is also possible that the control unit 21 alternately displays multiple photographed images of the tablet (for example, a front image and a back image) in response to a selection operation of a photographed image of the tablet in the dispensing details area A322. This makes it possible to check the tablet from multiple directions while reducing the size of the display area under normal conditions.

[0146] 16, 17, 19, and 20, on the inspection details screen D301 according to the first display mode and the inspection details screen D302 according to the second display mode, the control unit 21 displays the photographed images of the tablets corresponding to the plurality of medicine packets 451 dispensed in a series of packaging processes in the order of first packet, second packet, ..., for each package. Here, the control unit 21 may be able to arbitrarily select the order of the medicine packets 451 to be displayed, in response to a user operation, between a first arrangement (see FIG. 27) in which the tablets are arranged by the administration time, and a second arrangement (see FIG. 28) in which the tablets are arranged by the administration date and the administration time. The control unit 21 switches between the first arrangement and the second arrangement, for example, in response to a setting operation during the initial setup of the server 2 or the tablet packaging device 4.

[0147] For example, consider a case where nine doses of the medicine packet 451 corresponding to the morning, afternoon, and evening doses from July 1 to July 3 are dispensed based on one record of the prescription data. In this case, in the first array, photographed images of the tablets packed in the medicine packet 451 are displayed in the order of the morning of July 1, the morning of July 2, the morning of July 3, the afternoon of July 1, the afternoon of July 2, the afternoon of July 3, the evening of July 1, the evening of July 2, and the evening of July 3, as shown in Fig. 27. On the other hand, in the second array, photographed images of the tablets packed in the medicine packet 451 are displayed in the order of the morning of July 1, the afternoon of July 1, the evening of July 1, the morning of July 2, the afternoon of July 2, the evening of July 2, the morning of July 3, the afternoon of July 3, and the evening of July 3, as shown in Fig. 28. This makes it possible to change the display mode of the inspection details screen D301 or D302 to suit the operations of the medical institution in which the inspection support system 1 is used, thereby realizing a system configuration with excellent versatility.

[0148] [Inspection mode switching function] In the embodiment, the automatic inspection process of the tablet packaging device 4 determines the suitability of all tablets in the medicine packets 451 dispensed based on the prescription data. Meanwhile, the tablet packaging device 4 may be provided with inspection modes in the automatic inspection process, including a first inspection mode in which tablets in all medicine packets 451 are inspected, and a second inspection mode in which tablets in a predetermined portion of the medicine packets 451 are inspected. Note that the control unit 21 switches the inspection mode in the automatic inspection process between the first inspection mode and the second inspection mode during initial setting of the tablet packaging device 4, which is performed in response to a user operation, or the like.

[0149] Here, the inspection target in the second inspection mode may be either the first or last or both of the medicine packets 451 packaged based on the prescription data. The inspection target in the second inspection mode may also be either the first or last or both of the medicine packets 451 corresponding to a change in the dosage pattern in the prescription data. Furthermore, the inspection target in the second inspection mode may be the medicine packet 451 containing tablets supplied from a preset supply source (e.g., manual distribution unit 42 or a specific tablet cassette 41). For example, the second inspection mode is applied to medicine packets 451 containing at least one type of tablet supplied from the manual distribution unit 42 or the specific tablet cassette 41. In this way, inspection can be performed without omission on only those medicine packets 451 that are particularly in need of inspection, thereby improving the efficiency of inspection work by pharmacists. Incidentally, the switching between the first inspection mode and the second inspection mode is not limited to the unit of the medicine packet 451, but may be the unit of a series of medicine packets 451 packaged based on one piece of prescription data.

[0150] Note that the second inspection mode has been described with reference to an example in which tablets in some of the medicine packets 451 are subject to inspection. Meanwhile, as another example of the second inspection mode, when tablets are successively dispensed from the same tablet cassette 41 in the packaging process based on the prescription data, only the first tablet dispensed from the tablet cassette 41 is subject to inspection. Also, as another example of the second inspection mode, of the various tablets dispensed in the packaging process based on the prescription data, only the first tablet dispensed of each type is subject to inspection.

[0151] Furthermore, the tablet packaging device 4 may be provided with a third inspection mode in which the control unit 40 automatically switches between the on and off states of the automatic inspection process. In the third inspection mode, the automatic inspection process is not performed on tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette 41 during the packaging process, but is performed on tablets dispensed from the manual distribution unit 42. As a result, when the manual distribution unit 42 is used, which is prone to human error, the automatic inspection process is performed to prevent dispensing errors, and when the tablet cassette 41 is used instead of the manual distribution unit 42, the automatic inspection process is not performed, thereby shortening the time required for the packaging process. Note that when the automatic inspection process is not performed, the tablets may be photographed by the camera 462 or 463 of the photographing unit 46, but this may also be omitted.

[0152] Furthermore, in the third inspection mode, it is also conceivable that the inspection method will change depending on whether the manual distribution unit 42 is used in the packaging process. For example, when the supply source of at least one type of tablet included in the prescription data to be packaged is the manual distribution unit 42, i.e., when the manual distribution unit 42 is used in the packaging process, the control unit 40 executes an image inspection process as the automatic inspection process, in which the tablet identification information acquired from the captured image is compared with the prescription data. Here, the control unit 40 executing the image inspection process is an example of an image inspection processing unit. On the other hand, when the manual distribution unit 42 is not used in the packaging process but the tablet cassette 41 is used, the control unit 40 executes a counting inspection process in which the number of tablets dispensed is compared with the prescription data. Here, the control unit 40 executing the counting inspection process is an example of a counting inspection processing unit.

[0153] Specifically, in the tablet packaging device 4, the control unit 40 uses the passage detection sensor 475 to detect the number of tablets contained in the medicine pouch 451 for each medicine pouch 451. The control unit 40 when detecting the number of tablets using the passage detection sensor 475 is an example of a tablet number detection unit. The passage detection sensor 475 is disposed at a position where it detects the tablets after they are dispensed from the rotary unit 44 and before they are contained in the medicine pouch 451. That is, the control unit 40 detects the number of tablets using the passage detection sensor 475 downstream in the tablet dispensing direction from the positions where the tablets were photographed by the cameras 462 and 463. It is also possible that, for example, the medicine pouch 451 is photographed by a camera or the like after the tablets are contained in the medicine pouch 451, and the control unit 40 detects the number of tablets contained in the medicine pouch 451 from the photographed image. Then, the control unit 40 collates the number of tablets to be contained in the medicine packet 451 based on the prescription data with the number of tablets detected by the passage detection sensor 475 .

[0154] As a result, when the manual distribution unit 42, which is prone to human error, is used, the image inspection process is executed as the automatic inspection process, thereby preventing dispensing errors with high accuracy. On the other hand, when the manual distribution unit 42 is not used and the tablet cassette 41 is used, the image inspection process is not executed, thereby shortening the time required for the packaging process, and the counting inspection process is executed, thereby preventing dispensing errors.

[0155] The tablet packaging device 4 may also have a failure mode as one of its inspection modes, in which, if a malfunction occurs in a component such as the camera 462 or 463 used in the image inspection process, the counting inspection process is executed without executing the image inspection process as the automatic inspection process. For example, if a malfunction is detected in a component used in the image inspection process, the control unit 40 may display an operation screen for selecting whether to switch to the failure mode, and execute the switch to the failure mode in response to a user operation. This allows the tablet packaging device 4 to execute the normal packaging process even if a malfunction occurs in a component used to execute the image inspection process of the tablet packaging device 4. The failure mode may also be an inspection mode in which neither the image inspection process nor the counting inspection process is executed.

[0156] [Display change function when front and back sides are the same] Incidentally, the inspection details screen D301 displays two photographed images for each tablet, and the inspection details screen D302 displays one photographed image for each tablet. Therefore, when displaying images of tablets corresponding to the same number of medicine packets 451, the size of each photographed image is smaller on the inspection details screen D301 than on the inspection details screen D302.

[0157] In response to this, the control unit 21 may have a display change function that, even when the inspection details screen D301 is displayed, for tablets having the same identification information attached to the front and back surfaces, enlarges a captured image of one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet within the area in which the captured images of the front and back surfaces are displayed and displays it on the inspection details screen D301.

[0158] For example, the control unit 21 determines whether the identification information on the front and back surfaces of the tablet is the same by comparing the identification information of the tablet obtained from the front and back surfaces of the tablet. Alternatively, information on whether the front and back surfaces of each tablet are the same may be pre-registered in the drug master for each type of tablet, and the control unit 21 may determine whether the front and back surfaces of the tablet are the same based on the drug information of the tablet included in the prescription data as a dispensing target and the drug master.

[0159] According to this configuration, if the identification information attached to the front and back of the tablet is the same, the captured image corresponding to either the front or back of the tablet is enlarged and displayed, making it possible to easily confirm the identification information of the tablet. Note that, for tablets with different identification information attached to the front and back, the control unit 21 displays captured images corresponding to both the front and back of the tablet on the inspection details screen D301.

[0160] For example, among the tablets shown in Figures 16 and 19, "Cepharanthine Tablets 1 mg" have different identification information on the front and back, but for tablets such as "Candesartan OD Tablets 2 mg," the identification information on the front and back is the same. Therefore, if the tablet to be packaged is "Candesartan OD Tablets 2 mg," only one of the front and back of the tablet is displayed on the inspection details screen D301, as shown in Figure 29. In the example shown in Figure 29, both the front and back images of the tablet are displayed to make it possible to confirm that the identification information on the front and back is the same. On the other hand, it is also possible that only one of the front and back of the tablet is displayed for the main image.

[0161] [Image display function when an error occurs] As described above, in the inspection support system 1, the results of the automatic inspection process and the photographed images of the tablets are displayed on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302. In addition, on the enlarged screen D33 or the enlarged screen D34, it is possible to display enlarged photographs of the photographed images of the tablets contained in each medicine packet.

[0162] On the other hand, the inspection support system 1 may be provided with an error image display function that displays multiple types of images of the tablet that is the subject of the error, taken from different angles, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error. Below, we will first explain the case where the server 2 is provided with the error image display function, and then we will explain the case where the tablet packaging device 4 is provided with the error image display function.

[0163] Specifically, in the server 2, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 21 can display, for each tablet, a plurality of photographed images corresponding to different outer peripheral surfaces of the tablet photographed for each tablet by the tablet packaging device 4 as photographed images of the tablet that caused the error. Such display processing is executed by the inspection display processing unit 211 of the control unit 21.

[0164] Specifically, in the tablet packaging device 4, as described above, the cameras 462 and 463 capture images at preset intervals (e.g., every few milliseconds). Therefore, as images of a tablet rotating in the tablet rotation section 441 provided in the rotation unit 44, multiple images are obtained, each capturing a different region on the tablet's outer periphery. The capture interval is a preset interval that allows the cameras 462 and 463 to capture multiple different regions on the tablet's outer periphery. In the automated inspection process, which uses the tablet's identification information read from the captured images, the tablet's identification information is read from one of the multiple tablet images captured for each tablet, and a determination is made as to whether the identification information matches the prescription data. For example, the pharmaceutical master contains identification information engraved or printed for each tablet. In the automated inspection process, the pharmaceutical name of the tablet is identified based on the pharmaceutical master and the tablet's identification information read from the captured images, and a determination is made as to whether the pharmaceutical name matches the pharmaceutical name included in the prescription data. In addition, in the automatic inspection process performed using the photographed image and the correct image, one of the multiple photographed images of the tablet taken for each tablet is compared with the correct image to determine whether or not they match, or the degree of match.

[0165] If the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate, the control unit 40 transmits one or more captured images of the tablet taken by the camera 462 or the camera 463, including the original image when the tablet identification information was read from the tablet, or the original image compared with the correct image, along with the result of the automatic inspection process to the server 2. On the other hand, if the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 40 transmits multiple captured images of the tablet taken by the camera 462 or the camera 463, in which multiple different regions on the outer surface of the tablet are captured, along with the result of the automatic inspection process to the server 2. Note that all captured images of each tablet may be transmitted from the tablet packaging device 4 to the server 2.

[0166] Furthermore, errors in the automated inspection process include a first error in which the tablet identified by the identification information included in the captured image does not match the tablet included in the prescription data, and a second error in which the identification information included in the captured image does not match the identification information of all tablets registered in the pharmaceutical master. Therefore, for tablets for which the automated inspection process results in the first error, the control unit 40 may transmit to the server 2 the captured image of the tablet when the identification information was read, or the captured image compared with the correct image, as in the case where the automated inspection process results in a valid result. Furthermore, for tablets for which the automated inspection process results in the second error, the control unit 40 may transmit to the server 2 multiple captured images of the tablet, each captured in a different region of the tablet's outer surface.

[0167] In this way, by transmitting the photographed images from the tablet packaging device 4 to the server 2, the control unit 21 can display one or more photographed images of the tablets when displaying the inspection details screen D301 (see FIG. 17) or the inspection details screen D302 (see FIG. 20) on the display unit 24 of the server 2 or the display unit 34 of the client terminal 3. The control unit 21 stores each of the photographed images acquired from the tablet packaging device 4 in the memory unit 22, together with the result of the automatic inspection process, in association with the prescription data.

[0168] Specifically, on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302, for tablets for which the result of the automatic inspection process is correct or the first error, the control unit 21 may display at least the captured image when the tablet's identification information was read or the captured image compared with the correct image, and for tablets for which the result of the automatic inspection process is the second error, it may display any of the captured images of the tablet. For example, for tablets for which the result of the automatic inspection process is the second error, the control unit 21 may display either the first captured image or the last captured image of the tablet, or both. Furthermore, for tablets for which the result of the automatic inspection process is the second error, it may be possible for the control unit 21 to display, among the captured images of the tablet, a captured image containing identification information that has a high degree of pattern matching with the tablet's identification information, or to display among the captured images of the tablet in which text is detected.

[0169] Furthermore, when a user operation is performed on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302 to select one of the photographed images of the tablet for which the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate, the control unit 21 displays an enlarged image of the photographed image of the tablet on the enlarged screen D33 (see FIG. 18) and the enlarged screen D34 (see FIG. 21). Note that the user operation is, for example, an operation to select the photographed image of the tablet for which the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302.

[0170] On the other hand, when the user performs an operation on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302 to select one of the photographed images of the tablet for which the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 21 displays an error details screen D35 on which multiple photographed images of the tablet are displayed. Note that the user operation is, for example, an operation to select a photographed image of the tablet for which the result of the automatic inspection process is an error on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302. In addition, for the tablet for which the result of the automatic inspection process is the first error, the control unit 21 may also display the enlarged screen D33 or the enlarged screen D34 instead of the error details screen D35, as in the case where the result of the automatic inspection process is correct.

[0171] Furthermore, if the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 21 may display on the error details screen D35 whether the error is the first error or the second error. For example, if the result of the automatic inspection process is the first error, the control unit 21 may display on the error details screen D35 a message such as "Wrong drug type" indicating the first error, along with the name of the drug of the tablet corresponding to the identification information read from the photographed image of the tablet. Furthermore, if the result of the automatic inspection process is the second error, the control unit 21 may display on the error details screen D35 a message such as "Unknown drug type" indicating the second error.

[0172] FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of the error details screen D35. As shown in FIG. 22, the error details screen D35 displays, along with the name of the drug of the tablet selected on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302, multiple captured images P351-P353 of different regions of the tablet's outer surface as images of the tablet for which the automated inspection process resulted in an error. At this time, the control unit 21 displays, on the error details screen D35, a predetermined number of captured images taken consecutively at the capture interval or multiple captured images corresponding to a predetermined interval, among the multiple captured images corresponding to the tablet, thereby displaying captured images of different regions of the tablet's outer surface. In particular, for tablets for which the automated inspection process resulted in the first error, the control unit 21 may display, on the error details screen D35, one or more captured images, including the image captured when the identification information was read or the captured image compared with the correct image. This allows the pharmacist to determine whether the error is correct or not by referring to the multiple photographed images of the tablets displayed on the error details screen D35, for example.

[0173] For example, rotation correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the rotation amount (rotation time) of the roller 100 in the tablet rotation unit 441 and the rotation amount of the tablet is stored in the memory unit 22, and the control unit 21 may select multiple captured images of different areas of the outer circumferential surface of the tablet based on the rotation correspondence information and the photographing interval. Specifically, if the camera 462 or the camera 463 takes images every 1 ms and the rotation correspondence information indicates that the tablet rotates 10° every 10 ms, the control unit 21 may select multiple captured images captured every 45 ms or multiple captured images captured every 90 ms. As a result, the control unit 21 selects multiple captured images of the outer circumferential surface of the tablet in which the tablet's orientation differs by 45° or 90°. Furthermore, in the tablet packaging device 4, when the control unit 40 determines that the interval between photographs taken by the camera 462 or the camera 463 is 45 ms, the control unit 21 selects multiple consecutive photographed images, thereby selecting multiple photographed images in which the rotation angle of the tablet differs by 45°.

[0174] In this way, in the inspection support system 1, if the result of the automatic inspection process contains an error, the control unit 21 can display the error details screen D35, which displays multiple captured images of different areas on the outer circumferential surface of the tablet. Therefore, if the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the pharmacist can understand the reason for the error by referring to the multiple captured images.

[0175] Although the error details screen D35 shown in FIG. 22 displays three captured images P351 to P353, the number of captured images displayed on the error details screen D35 is not limited to this. For example, it is conceivable that two captured images of different areas of the outer peripheral surface of the tablet are displayed, or that four or more captured images are displayed. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 sequentially displays multiple captured images of the tablet one by one or multiple images at a time in response to a left-right or up-down flick operation on the error details screen D35. It is also conceivable that a slide bar that can be slid left-right or up-down is displayed on the error details screen D35, and the control unit 21 sequentially displays multiple captured images of the tablet one by one or multiple images at a time in response to a slide operation of the slide bar.

[0176] Furthermore, when one of the photographed images displayed on the error details screen D35 is selected, the control unit 21 may display an enlarged screen D36 for enlarging and displaying the photographed image. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the enlarged screen D36. Specifically, the enlarged screen D36 shown in FIG. 23 displays a photographed image P361 of a selected tablet and an enlarged image P362 of a normal image corresponding to the tablet, arranged vertically or horizontally, similar to the enlarged screen D34 (see FIG. 18). It is also conceivable that the enlarged image P362 may be displayed together with the photographed images P351 to P353 on the error details screen D35.

[0177] 1, the control unit 21 includes a cancellation processing unit 215 that can cancel the error for the tablet in response to a user operation performed after the display of a photographed image of the tablet that caused the error in the automatic inspection process. Furthermore, the cancellation processing unit 215 can cancel the error and record the user's identification information at the time of the user operation in association with the prescription data. The control unit 21 functions as the cancellation processing unit 215 by executing various processes in accordance with the inspection support program.

[0178] Specifically, as shown in Figures 22 and 23, the error details screen D35 and the enlarged screen D36 display an error reset key K351 for resetting an error resulting from the automatic inspection process. When the error reset key K351 is operated, the control unit 21 resets an error that has occurred for the tablets in the currently displayed medicine package as a result of the automatic inspection process of the prescription data. As a result, if a pharmacist can confirm that there are no problems by referring to each of the photographed images of the tablets, for example, by operating the error reset key K351, the pharmacist can successfully complete the inspection of the prescription data even if an error has occurred in the automatic inspection process of the prescription data.

[0179] Furthermore, when the error clearing key K351 is operated, the control unit 21 records in the storage unit 22, in association with the prescription data, the fact that the error has been cleared and the identification information (name or ID) of the pharmacist who is the currently logged-in user, along with the result of the automatic inspection process. This enables the control unit 21 to output (display) information about the user who cleared the error from the results of the automatic inspection process for the prescription data. The control unit 21 may also record information such as the date and time when the error clearing key K351 was operated or an arbitrarily entered comment on the reason for clearing the error, along with the result of the automatic inspection process, in association with the prescription data, along with the result of the automatic inspection process, in the storage unit 22.

[0180] It is also possible that when the error reset key K351 is operated, the control unit 21 does not reset the error, but instead records the fact that a confirmation operation for the error has been performed (the user's judgment result) and the identification information of the pharmacist who performed the confirmation operation, together with the result of the automatic inspection process, in association with the prescription data in the storage unit 22. This enables the control unit 21 to output (display) information such as the result of the automatic inspection process in the tablet packaging device 4, the user's judgment result as to whether or not a confirmation operation has been performed by the pharmacist, and the identification information of the pharmacist who performed the confirmation operation.

[0181] In the inspection support system 1, the results of the automatic inspection process for the prescription data and the captured image data are stored in the memory unit 22 of the server 2. The control unit 21 may erase, at the end of the inspection support process (see FIG. 7) (S26: Yes), the captured images of tablets whose errors have been cleared by operating the error clear key K351 or the like, among the captured image data stored in the memory unit 22. This reduces the storage capacity required in the memory unit 22. The control unit 21 may also store, in the memory unit 22, only one or more captured images arbitrarily selected by a user operation on the error details screen D35 from among the captured images of tablets whose errors have been cleared by operating the error clear key K351 or the like, and erase the other captured images.

[0182] Next, a case where the tablet packaging device 4 has the error image display function will be described. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the tablet packaging device 4 includes an operation display unit 48 such as a liquid crystal display and a touch panel, and a storage unit 49 such as a hard disk or SSD. Similarly to the control unit 21, the control unit 40 can display the inspection details screens D301 and D302, the enlarged screens D34 and D35, the error details screen D35, and the enlarged screen D36 on the operation display unit 48. That is, when the automatic inspection process results in an error, the control unit 40 can display the error details screen D35 on the operation display unit 48. The error details screen D35 displays, for each tablet, multiple images of the tablet that were captured by the tablet packaging device 4 and correspond to different outer peripheral surfaces of the tablet, as the image of the tablet that caused the error. Here, the control unit 40 when executing this process is an example of an inspection display processing unit.

[0183] Furthermore, for tablets for which the result of the automatic inspection process is the first error, the control unit 40 may cause the operation display unit 48 to display the photographed image of the tablet when the identification information was read, or the photographed image of the tablet compared with the correct image, in the same manner as when the result of the automatic inspection process is correct. And, for tablets for which the result of the automatic inspection process is the second error, the control unit 40 may cause the operation display unit 48 to display, from the photographed image of the tablet, multiple photographed images of multiple different regions on the outer circumferential surface of the tablet.

[0184] It is also possible that the control unit 40 sequentially displays the multiple captured images of the tablet one by one or multiple images at a time in response to a left-right or up-down flick operation on the error details screen D35. It is also possible that a slide bar that can be slid left-right or up-down is displayed on the error details screen D35, and the control unit 40 sequentially displays the multiple captured images of the tablet one by one or multiple images at a time in response to a slide operation of the slide bar.

[0185] Furthermore, when the error clearing key K351 is operated, the control unit 40 records in the storage unit 49, in association with the prescription data, the result of the automatic inspection process, and the identification information (name or ID) of the pharmacist who is the user currently logged in to the tablet packaging device 4. Furthermore, when the control unit 40 transmits the result of the automatic inspection process and the photographed image of the tablet to the server 2, it also transmits the fact that the error has been cleared and the identification information of the pharmacist. As a result, when the control unit 21 outputs (displays) the result of the automatic inspection process for the prescription data, the server 2 can output (display) the fact that the error has been cleared and the identification information of the pharmacist, etc.

[0186] Furthermore, when the error reset key K351 is operated, the control unit 40 may record in the storage unit 49, without resetting the error, the fact that a confirmation operation for the error has been performed and the identification information of the pharmacist who performed the confirmation operation, in association with the prescription data along with the result of the automatic inspection process. This enables the control unit 40 to output (display) information such as the result of the automatic inspection process in the tablet packaging device 4, whether or not a confirmation operation has been performed by the pharmacist, and the identification information of the pharmacist who performed the confirmation operation. For example, when transmitting the result of the automatic inspection process and the photographed image of the tablet to the server 2, the control unit 40 may also transmit the fact that a confirmation operation for the error has been performed and the identification information of the pharmacist.

[0187] In the tablet packaging device 4, the control unit 40 stores the results of the automatic inspection process for the prescription data and the captured image data in the memory unit 49. Therefore, the control unit 21 may delete, at the end of the inspection support process (see FIG. 7 ) (S26: Yes), the captured image data of tablets for which the automatic inspection process results are normal and the captured image data for which the error has been cleared by operating the error clear key K351, among the captured image data stored in the memory unit 22. This reduces the storage capacity required in the memory unit 22. The results of the automatic inspection process and the captured image data may be stored in either the memory unit 22 of the server 2 or the memory unit 49 of the tablet packaging device 4, and the results of the automatic inspection process and the captured image data may be deleted from the other memory unit at the end of the inspection support process.

[0188] [Print inspection function] In the tablet packaging device 4, the printing unit 453 may print text information such as the patient's name, the timing of administration, the name of the drug, or the prescribed amount on the medicine packet 451. Also, an inspection code may be printed as a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code on the medicine packet 451 to determine whether the packaging process is appropriate when the medicine packet 451 is packaged. In response to this, the tablet packaging device 4 may have a print inspection function that automatically inspects whether the printing on the medicine packet 451 by the printing unit 453 is performed normally.

[0189] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 1, the tablet packaging device 4 includes an image reading unit 50 that reads an image of the medicine packet 451. The image reading unit 50 is disposed downstream in the direction of movement of the medicine packet 451 in the packaging unit 45 from the position where the printing unit 453 prints on the medicine packet 451. More specifically, the image reading unit 50 is disposed downstream in the direction of movement of the medicine packet 451 from the position where the printing unit 453 prints on the medicine packet 451, at a position before the tablets are contained in the medicine packet 451. Note that the image reading unit 50 may also be disposed at a position after the tablets are contained in the medicine packet 451.

[0190] The image reading unit 50 includes an image sensor such as a CCD or CIS that reads an image from the medicine packet 451. The control unit 40 then acquires character information printed on the medicine packet 451 by a well-known character recognition process (OCR) or the like based on the image read by the image reading unit 50. Furthermore, if the image read by the image reading unit 50 includes the drug detection code, the control unit 40 reads drug detection information from the drug detection code.

[0191] Thereafter, the control unit 40 compares the character information or drug inspection information printed on the medicine packet 451 read by the image reading unit 50 with the character information or drug inspection information that should be printed on the medicine packet 451. If the comparison result is a mismatch, the control unit 40 notifies the user by displaying a message to that effect on the operation display unit 48, and records the result of the print inspection process in the memory unit 49 in association with the prescription data. This makes it possible to automatically discover printing omissions or printing errors on the medicine packet 451, and to assist pharmacists in inspecting the printed content of the medicine packet 451.

[0192] The process of verifying the printed content may be executed not only by the tablet packing device 4 but also by the server 2. Specifically, an image of the medicine package 451 read by the image reading unit 50 is input from the tablet packing device 4 to the server 2. Then, the control unit 21 of the server 2 determines whether the information printed on the medicine package 451 is appropriate, based on the image of the medicine package 451 read by the image reading unit 50 in the tablet packing device 4 and the prescription data.

[0193] [Chemical reuse function] For the medicine package 451 containing tablets for which the inspection result of the automatic inspection process executed in the tablet packaging device 4 is erroneous, the packaging process must be re-executed in the tablet packaging device 4. At this time, if the medicine package 451 contains multiple tablets and the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is erroneous for only some of the tablets, the tablets for which the inspection result is correct will be wasted. Alternatively, it will be necessary to return the tablets for which the inspection result is correct to the tablet cassette 41 corresponding to those tablets. Therefore, it is considered that the tablet packaging device 4 has a medicine reuse function that can support the reuse of tablets for which the inspection result is correct when the packaging process is re-executed when the medicine package 451 contains multiple tablets and the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is erroneous for only some of the tablets.

[0194] Specifically, when re-executing the packaging process for the medicine packet 451 containing tablets for which the inspection result is erroneous, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the medicine packet 451 that has already been packaged contains tablets for which the inspection result is correct. If the medicine packet 451 contains tablets for which the inspection result is correct, the control unit 40 causes the operation display unit 48 to display a guidance notice urging the user to insert the tablets into the manual distribution unit 42. For example, the guidance notice displays, by means of images or text, guidance as to which tablets of the tablets contained in the medicine packet 451 should be inserted and to which positions.

[0195] Then, when the control unit 40 re-executes the packaging process for the medicine package 451, it performs the packaging process using the tablets distributed in the manual distribution unit 42. This allows the tablets for which the inspection result is correct to be used effectively without being wasted, and eliminates the need for the user to return the tablets to the tablet cassette 41. If a tablet cassette 41 corresponding to the type of tablets for which the inspection result is incorrect exists, the tablets are supplied from the tablet cassette 41. On the other hand, if a tablet cassette 41 corresponding to the type of tablets for which the inspection result is incorrect does not exist, the guidance notice displays a message indicating that the tablets should be placed into the manual distribution unit 42 together with the tablets for which the inspection result is correct, and the packaging process is performed using the manual distribution unit 42.

[0196] Incidentally, even when the packaging process is re-executed, the control unit 40 executes the automatic inspection process and transmits the inspection results of the automatic inspection process and the captured images to the server 2. In this case, in the server 2, the control unit 21 displays the inspection results of the automatic inspection process for the re-executed packaging process on the inspection details screen D31, D301, D302, or the like. For example, it is considered that the control unit 21 can sequentially switch and display the inspection results of the automatic inspection processes previously executed for the same prescription data on the inspection details screen D31, D301, D302, or the like, automatically or in response to a user operation.

[0197] It is also conceivable that the control unit 21 rewrites the inspection results of the past automatic inspection processes with the latest inspection results of the automatic inspection process for only tablets for which the packaging process has been re-executed, among the inspection results of the past automatic inspection processes. Note that even in this case, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 accumulates the inspection results of the automatic inspection processes for the same prescription data and stores them in the storage unit 22. This makes it possible to refer to the history of the inspection results of the automatic inspection processes on the server 2.

[0198] [Capsule image processing function] If the tablets dispensed in the packaging process are capsule tablets, the automatic inspection process is performed based on the identification information attached to the two left and right capsule halves that make up the capsule tablet. However, if the two left and right capsule halves that make up the capsule tablet have identification information engraved or printed on them, the position of the identification information may be shifted in the circumferential direction.

[0199] Therefore, in the automatic inspection process, if the tablet is a capsule tablet, the control unit 40 may have a capsule image processing function that acquires photographed images (divided images) of each of the capsule pieces of the capsule tablet.

[0200] Specifically, the control unit 40 determines whether the tablet is a capsule tablet based on the change in the tablet area in the multiple captured images of the tablet. For example, if the ratio of the maximum and minimum tablet area values ​​in each captured image is equal to or less than a preset threshold, i.e., if the change in the tablet area is extremely small, the tablet may be determined to be a capsule tablet. The control unit 40 may also determine whether the tablet is a capsule tablet if a line segment dividing the tablet is present in each captured image, or if the left and right images of the tablet have different colors. The control unit 40 may also determine whether the tablet is a capsule tablet based on the pharmaceutical master or the pharmaceutical database.

[0201] If the control unit 40 determines that the tablet is a capsule tablet, it divides the image of the capsule tablet in each captured image into individual capsule pieces to obtain split images. For example, the split images are images obtained by dividing the captured image along lines indicating the boundaries between the capsule pieces or along the center of the capsule tablet. The control unit 40 then verifies the suitability of the capsule tablet based on the split images of each capsule piece in the automatic inspection process. Specifically, the pharmaceutical master stores a split image of the capsule tablet divided into two parts (left and right) or a split image divided into four parts (top, bottom, left, right), and the control unit 40 may compare the captured image of the capsule tablet with each of the split images divided into two parts (left and right) or each of the four parts (top, bottom, left, right). Alternatively, the control unit 40 may individually read the tablet identification information contained in the split images and compare it with the tablet identification information contained in the split images to verify the suitability of the capsule tablet.

[0202] The control unit 40 also transmits to the server 2, along with the results of the automatic inspection process, at least the divided images of each capsule piece that have been compared with the divided original image, or the divided images when the identification information has been read. The control unit 21 in the server 2 then combines the divided images containing the identification information of each capsule piece of the capsule tablet as a captured image of the capsule tablet to generate a composite image, and displays the composite image on the inspection details screen D302. This allows the user to check the identification information of each capsule piece of the capsule tablet on the inspection details screen D302 using the composite image.

[0203] In addition, when two images are displayed as in the inspection details screen D301, the control unit 21 may also display an image of the capsule tablet with identification information on the right side of the capsule tablet and an image of the capsule tablet with identification information on the left side of the capsule tablet on the inspection details screen D301.

[0204] Incidentally, when the tablets dispensed in the packaging process are capsule tablets, it is considered that the characters of the identification information are formed along the circumferential direction of the capsule tablet. Here, Figure 61A is a diagram showing an example of a photographed image of a capsule tablet in which the characters of the identification information, "ALTATT 75" and "TZ321," are formed along the circumferential direction on each of the left and right capsule pieces. As shown in Figure 61A, only a portion of the characters of the identification information of the capsule tablet appear in each photographed image of the capsule tablet.

[0205] Therefore, for capsule tablets in which the characters of the identification information are formed along the circumferential direction, the control unit 40 may generate a composite image by combining multiple captured images corresponding to different positions along the circumferential direction of the capsule tablet, and use the composite image to determine the suitability of the capsule tablet. This point will be explained below. Here, it is assumed that the pharmaceutical master stores a split image including the characters "ALTAT 75" and a split image including the characters "TZ321" as the identification information corresponding to each capsule piece of the capsule tablet.

[0206] Specifically, the control unit 40 performs distortion correction processing, joining feature extraction processing, image joining processing, boundary removal processing, etc. on multiple images of the capsule tablets taken by the camera 462 or 463 during the packaging process.

[0207] First, because the capsule tablet is cylindrical, the characters of the identification information of the capsule tablet in the captured image are distorted at the ends of the short side, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the capsule tablet. Therefore, in the distortion correction process, the control unit 40 corrects the distortion of the characters of the identification information by expanding each captured image in the short side of the capsule tablet. More specifically, the degree of contraction of the characters of the identification information in the short side increases from the center to the ends of the capsule tablet in the short side. Therefore, in the distortion correction process, the control unit 40 performs a correction process for the captured image according to a weighting factor preset based on the diameter of the capsule tablet, etc., so that the degree of expansion of the characters of the identification information in the short side increases from the center to the ends of the capsule tablet in the short side. For example, the control unit 40 may set target points at intervals that gradually narrow from the center to the ends of the capsule tablet in the short side of the capsule tablet in the captured image, and then expand the captured image so that the target points are evenly spaced. As a result, a captured image in which distortion of the characters of the identification information has been corrected can be obtained, as shown in FIG. 61B, for example.

[0208] Next, in the combining feature point extraction process, the control unit 40 trims a predetermined required range of each of the captured images after the distortion correction process, including the identification information, and extracts feature points for each of the trimmed captured images to combine the captured images. Then, in the image combining process, the control unit 40 generates a composite image by sequentially overlaying and combining the captured images based on the feature points. As a result, a composite image in which the captured images are combined is obtained, as shown in FIG. 61C, for example. Furthermore, in the boundary removal process, the control unit 40 performs a process to remove from the composite image any boundary lines resulting from the combination of the captured images. For example, the boundary removal process removes the boundary lines using a well-known gradient domain method. As a result, a captured image in which the character distortion of the identification information has been corrected is obtained, as shown in FIG. 61D, for example.

[0209] The control unit 40 then executes the image inspection process using the composite image as the captured image to determine the appropriateness of the capsule tablet. Specifically, the control unit 40 extracts character areas (e.g., areas A41 and A42 in FIG. 61D) from the composite image and determines the appropriateness of the characters in the identification information by matching each image of the character areas with the divided correct images. This allows the tablet packaging device 4 to determine the appropriateness of capsule tablets by the image inspection process, even for capsule tablets with identification information characters formed circumferentially.

[0210] [Abbreviated display function] Furthermore, the control unit 21 may have a display omission function that, if at least one of the two captured images of the tablet on the inspection details screen D301 does not contain the identification information of the tablet, omits display of that captured image and displays an enlarged version of the other captured image. In particular, it may be possible to exclude information on specific identification information that has been set in advance from each captured image of the tablet on the inspection details screen D301 and determine whether or not the identification information is present in each captured image.

[0211] Specifically, it is considered that the manufacturer name or mark of the tablet is set as the specific identification information in the pharmaceutical master and stored in the memory unit 22. Meanwhile, the control unit 21 acquires, as the tablet identification information, information obtained from the photographed image of the tablet, excluding the specific identification information. As a result, when the photographed image of the tablet contains only the specific identification information, the tablet identification information is not acquired from the photographed image of the tablet.

[0212] Then, the control unit 21 displays the photographed images of the front and back surfaces of the tablet on the inspection details screen D301 if the photographed images contain identification information. On the other hand, if the photographed images of either the front or back surfaces of the tablet do not contain identification information on the inspection details screen D301, the control unit 21 omits displaying the photographed images that do not contain the identification information and displays only the photographed images that contain the identification information. At this time, the control unit 21 enlarges and displays the photographed images within the area where the photographed images of the front and back surfaces are displayed. Note that if only the specific identification information is present on both the front and back surfaces of the tablet, only the photographed images of either the front or back surface of the tablet are enlarged and displayed.

[0213] As a result, if only the specific identification information is present on either the front or back surface of the tablet, the image of the surface on which only the specific identification information is present is not displayed and the image of the other surface is enlarged, allowing the pharmacist to easily check the identification information of the tablet.

[0214] [Information registration function] In the inspection support system 1, images of various tablets pre-registered in the pharmaceutical master are used for collation and result display in the automatic inspection process. For new drugs not registered in the pharmaceutical master, information such as images of the new drug must be registered in the pharmaceutical master as appropriate. Therefore, in the inspection support system 1, the tablet packaging device 4 has an information registration function that supports the registration process for registering the tablet's identification information, shape information, and the like in the pharmaceutical master. The pharmaceutical master information registered by the tablet packaging device 4 is also transmitted to the server 2 and used by the server 2.

[0215] Specifically, the information registration function is realized by the control unit 40 executing an information registration process. In the information registration process, the tablet's identification information is obtained from a captured image that satisfies preset conditions among multiple captured images of the tablet, and the tablet's identification information is registered in the pharmaceutical master or the like as matching source data corresponding to the type of tablet. Specifically, the matching source data includes an image of the tablet that includes at least the area of ​​the tablet's identification information among the captured images as the authentic image, and in the image inspection process, the suitability of the tablet is determined by matching the authentic image with the captured image. Furthermore, the tablet's identification information registered as the authentic image is not limited to an image of a partial area of ​​the captured image that includes the identification information, but may be an image of the entire area of ​​the captured image. Note that the control unit 40 executing the information registration process is an example of a registration processing unit.

[0216] 30 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the information registration process executed by the control unit 40. For example, the control unit 40 can execute the information registration process as part of the initial setting process in the tablet packaging device 4. Furthermore, it is considered that the control unit 40 executes the information registration process automatically or in response to a user request when information on tablets included in the prescription data to be packaged is not registered in the medicine master, or when the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is an error, etc.

[0217] <Step S31> First, in step S31, the control unit 40 executes a process of acquiring a plurality of photographed images of the outer periphery of the tablet captured from different directions. Specifically, the control unit 40 dispenses the tablet to be registered from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual distribution unit 42 in which the tablet is accommodated. Then, similar to when the packaging process is executed, the control unit 40 photographs the tablet being rotated by the rotation unit 44 a plurality of times using the cameras 462 and 463 of the photographing unit 46. Here, the control unit 40 when executing the photographing process is an example of a photographing processing unit.

[0218] More specifically, before photographing the tablet, the control unit 40 displays a selection screen on the operation display unit 48 to allow the user to select whether the tablet's identification information is engraved or printed on the tablet. Next, the control unit 40 determines whether the tablet's identification information is engraved or printed in accordance with the user's selection operation on the operation display unit 48. Here, the control unit 40 when executing such determination processing is an example of a determination processing unit. Note that when a tablet to be registered is designated from the medicine database by a user operation and a method for forming the tablet's identification information is registered in the medicine database, the control unit 40 can also determine whether the tablet's identification information is engraved or printed based on the medicine database.

[0219] The control unit 40 then selects either the first photographing unit including the camera 462 and the lighting device 468 or the second photographing unit including the camera 463 and the lighting device 469, depending on the method of forming the identification information, to photograph the tablet. Specifically, if the tablet's identification information is identified as an engraving, the tablet is photographed using the first photographing unit appropriate for the engraving. If the tablet's identification information is identified as a print, the tablet is photographed using the second photographing unit appropriate for the print. In this way, when registering the normal image as the matching data, the control unit 40 selects the first photographing unit or the second photographing unit appropriate for the method of forming the tablet's identification information (engraving or printing) to photograph the tablet. Therefore, the normal image to be registered in the pharmaceutical master as the tablet's matching data is obtained from a photographed image in which the tablet's identification information is clearly captured. This improves the accuracy of the matching process performed using the normal image in the image inspection process.

[0220] If the packaging process has already been performed and multiple images of the tablets have been acquired during the automatic inspection process, the control unit 40 may read out the multiple images corresponding to the tablets from the storage unit 49 as images of the tablets to be registered. That is, the control unit 40 may register the tablet information in the pharmaceutical master as part of a series of processes during the packaging process, rather than just performing the information registration process before the packaging process. In this case, the control unit 40 may cause both cameras 462 and 463 to photograph the tablets during the packaging process, and read out the images photographed by the cameras 462 or 463 appropriate for the engraving or printing selected by the user as described above as images of the tablets to be registered.

[0221] Incidentally, when a photographed image of the tablet is acquired in step S31, the tablet may be rotated in the tablet rotation section 441 of the rotation unit 44 in a state where the side of the tablet faces the camera 462 or 463 directly (hereinafter referred to as the "vertical rotation state"). In this case, the front or back side of the tablet, on which the tablet's identification information is present, is not photographed by the camera 462 or 463. Therefore, the control section 40 determines whether the tablet is in the vertical rotation state, and if it is in the vertical rotation state, executes a process of vibrating the tablet to change the orientation of the tablet. The control section 40 executes a similar process not only in the information registration process but also when photographing the tablet using the camera 462 or 463 during the packaging process.

[0222] Specifically, when the captured image of the tablet is captured in step S31, it is determined whether the tablet is rotating in the vertically rotated state based on the captured image captured by the camera 462 or 463. Here, the control unit 40 when executing this process is an example of a tablet determination processing unit. For example, the control unit 40 determines whether the aspect ratio of the tablet in a predetermined number or more of the captured images among the multiple captured images is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio. Specifically, when the predetermined number is 5 and the predetermined ratio is 1.2, the control unit 40 determines that the tablet is rotating in the vertically rotated state if the length / width value of the tablet in five or more captured images is 1.2 or greater. In addition, when the camera 462 or 463 is positioned to photograph the tablet rotation section 441 from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating roller 100, the horizontal direction of the tablet is parallel to the axial direction of the rotating roller 100, and the vertical direction of the tablet is perpendicular to the opposing direction of the rotating roller 100 and the camera 462 or 463 and the axial direction of the rotating roller 100.

[0223] When the control unit 40 determines that the tablet is rotating in the vertical rotation state, it executes a process to vibrate the tablet placed on the tablet rotation unit 441 to change the orientation of the tablet. Here, the control unit 40 executing this process is an example of a vibration processing unit. Specifically, the rotation unit 44 or the tablet rotation unit 441 is provided with a vibration unit that vibrates the tablet by vibrating the rotation unit 44 or the tablet rotation unit 441, and the control unit 40 may drive the vibration unit to cause the tablet to fall. The vibration unit may, for example, vibrate the tablet rotation unit 441 in the axial direction of the rotating roller 100. The control unit 40 may also execute a swing process to reciprocate the rotation unit 44 by a predetermined distance using the unit rotation unit 442 of the rotation unit 44. As a result, the tablet is fallen in the tablet rotation unit 441, changing the orientation of the tablet, and the front and back surfaces of the tablet are photographed by the camera 462 or 463.

[0224] Thus, in step S31, the orientation of the tablet may be changed using the vibration unit, and the control unit 40 does not cause the rotation unit 442 to rotate the tablet rotation unit 441 to the next step until the images necessary to acquire images of the front and back of the tablet are captured.The control unit 40 then terminates image capture when a preset number of images or more have been acquired without determining that the tablet is rotating in the vertically rotated state based on the images captured by the camera 462 or 463, and causes the rotation unit 442 to rotate the tablet rotation unit 441 to the next step.Note that if the control unit 40 determines that the tablet is rotating in the vertically rotated state based on the images captured by the camera 462 or 463, it is also possible to report an error and interrupt the processing.

[0225] <Step S32> Each time step S32 is executed, the control unit 40 sequentially selects, from the plurality of photographed images corresponding to the tablet, photographed images to be processed in steps S33 to S35. Then, in steps S33 to S35, various processes are executed on the photographed images selected in step S32.

[0226] <Step S33> In step S33, the control unit 40 identifies the tablet area in which the tablet is present from the captured image. For example, if the color of the rotating roller 100 provided in the tablet rotation unit 441 is black, the background area of ​​the tablet in the captured image will be black. In this case, the control unit 40 can acquire the area of ​​the captured image excluding the black color as the tablet area. Specifically, the control unit 40 uses the black color of the rotating roller 100 in the captured image as a reference color (threshold value) and acquires the area of ​​the captured image that is lighter in color than the reference color as the tablet area. For example, the reference color is represented by the component values ​​of R (red), G (green), and B (blue).

[0227] <Step S34> In step S34, the control unit 40 acquires the area value of the tablet area identified from the captured image. If multiple tablet areas are identified in step S33, the control unit 40 selects the circumscribed area of ​​the tablet area with the largest area value among the tablet areas as the tablet area corresponding to the tablet.

[0228] <Step S35> In step S35, the control unit 40 acquires an index value such as the average value or deviation value of the gray values ​​within the tablet region. The gray values ​​are values ​​used when expressing the color of each pixel contained in a grayscale image in multiple tones, such as 256 tones or 65,536 tones from white to black. For example, the gray value "0" is white, and the gray value "255" is black. Also, the gray value "255" is white, and the gray value "0" is black.

[0229] Specifically, if the captured image is a color image, the control unit 40 converts the captured image into a grayscale image and obtains the index value of the gray value of the tablet area of ​​the converted captured image. The index value is used to extract identification information such as printed characters or markings within the tablet area.

[0230] For example, within the tablet region, the proportion of the area occupied by the identification information on the front or back of the tablet is considered to be small. Therefore, for example, if the gray value "0" is white and the gray value "255" is black, and the color of the tablet is closer to black than the identification information, the average gray value will be greater than the gradation value of the identification information. Therefore, if the average gray value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the control unit 40 can extract, as the identification information, the area of ​​the tablet region where the gray value is smaller than the average gray value.

[0231] Furthermore, for example, if the gray value "0" is white and the gray value "255" is black, and the color of the tablet is closer to white than the identification information, the average value of the gray value will be smaller than the gradation value of the identification information. Therefore, if the average value of the gray value is less than a predetermined threshold, the control unit 40 can extract, as the identification information, an area of ​​the tablet area where the gray value is greater than the average value.

[0232] <Step S36> In step S36, the control unit 40 determines whether the processing of steps S33 to S35 has been completed for all of the captured images corresponding to the tablet. If it is determined that the processing has been completed (S36: Yes), the process proceeds to step S37, and if it is determined that the processing has not been completed (S36: No), the process proceeds to step S32.

[0233] <Step S37> In step S37, the control unit 40 identifies one or more of the captured images corresponding to the tablet that contain the tablet's identification information as registration images. If the tablet is a flat tablet, in step S37, the registration images are identified for each of the front and back surfaces of the tablet. As described above, the control unit 40 may determine that the odd-numbered captured images of the multiple captured images identified as the captured images f4 or f8 capturing the front and back surfaces of the tablet from the front, as shown in FIG. 24A, are front images, and the even-numbered captured images are back images. The processing of steps S38 to S39, described below, is then performed for each of the one or more registration images corresponding to the front surface of the tablet and the one or more registration images corresponding to the back surface of the tablet.

[0234] For example, the control unit 40 acquires the edge amount contained in the tablet region of each of the captured images and identifies the reference captured image with the largest edge amount as the registration image. The edge amount is calculated by counting the number of edges where the difference in gradation values ​​between adjacent pixels is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. Then, if there is a captured image among the multiple captured images in which the ratio of the edge amount of the captured image to the edge amount of the reference captured image is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (e.g., 80% or 90%), the control unit 40 also identifies that captured image as the registration image.

[0235] The control unit 40 may register the reference image as a normal image of the tablet in the medicine master. The reference image registered as the normal image is transmitted to the server 2 by the control unit 40 and registered in the medicine master stored in the memory unit 22 of the server 2. This allows the server 2 to display the reference image as the normal image in the inspection support process.

[0236] In another embodiment, the control unit 40 may register a photographed image selected by a user operation from among the plurality of photographed images corresponding to the tablet as the normal image in the drug master. For example, in step S37, the control unit 40 displays the plurality of photographed images corresponding to the tablet on the operation display unit 48, accepts the selection of the photographed image by a user operation using the operation display unit 48, and registers the photographed image in the drug master.

[0237] Furthermore, when registering the normal image in the drug master in step S37, the control unit 40 may register the correct orientation of the normal image specified by a user operation in the drug master. Specifically, in step S37, the control unit 40 displays the photographed image to be registered as the normal image on the operation display unit 48 and accepts a user operation using the operation display unit 48 to specify the upward position in the photographed image (the correct orientation of the identification information). The control unit 40 then rotates the photographed image so that the upward position specified by the user operation is at the top, and registers the photographed image as the normal image in the drug master. That is, the orientation of the normal image, which is the matching source data, indicates the correct position as the upward position in the normal image. As a result, the normal image rotated so that the upward position in the photographed image is at the top is registered in the drug master as the matching source data, and the control unit 40 can compare the normal image with the photographed image while the orientation of the identification information contained in the normal image is correct, and determine the appropriateness of the identification information in the image inspection process. It is also possible that the control unit 40 registers the photographed image as the normal image without rotating it, and registers information such as coordinates indicating the upward position as part of the matching source data in association with the normal image. In this way, even when information indicating the upward position in the normal image is registered in the medicine master as part of the matching source data, the control unit 40 can compare the normal image with the photographed image in the image inspection process while the orientation of the identification information included in the normal image is correct, and determine the appropriateness of the identification information.

[0238] It is also possible that the drug database pre-stores an initial normal image of the tablet, in which the tablet's identification information is captured in the correct orientation. In this case, the control unit 40 may determine the upward position (the correct orientation of the identification information) of the normal image based on the initial normal image stored in the drug database, rather than based on the user's operation. For example, the control unit 40 performs a matching process to gradually rotate the normal image and compare the normal image at each rotational state with the initial normal image. Then, based on the comparison result between the normal image and the initial normal image, the control unit 40 determines that the state in which the difference between the normal image and the initial normal image is smallest is the correct state of the normal image, and registers the normal image in that state in the drug master. It is also possible that the control unit 40 registers the captured image as the normal image without rotating it, based on the comparison result between the normal image and the initial normal image, and registers information such as coordinates indicating the upward position as part of the matching source data, corresponding to the normal image. In addition, the control unit 40 can register the information registered in the drug database as the initial information of the drug master, and for tablets that are not to be registered in the information registration process, it is possible that the initial correct image in the drug database will be registered in the drug master as the correct image.

[0239] <Step S38> In step S38, the control unit 40 identifies the shape of the tablet based on the registration image and creates tablet model data corresponding to that shape. The tablet model data includes information used to identify the shape of the tablet, such as the height, width, and area of ​​the tablet. The tablet model data also includes information such as the position and range of the identification information included on the tablet.

[0240] In particular, the control unit 40 registers information about the front and back surfaces of the tablet individually in the tablet model. Specifically, the control unit 40 creates a tablet model corresponding to the front surface of the tablet based on one or more of the registration images corresponding to the front surface extracted in step S37, and creates a tablet model corresponding to the back surface of the tablet based on one or more of the registration images corresponding to the back surface extracted in step S37. The tablet model data is then used, for example, to verify the appropriateness of the shape or size of the tablet in the automatic inspection process, or to identify the area in the captured image where the tablet's identification information exists in the automatic inspection process.

[0241] If multiple registration images are identified in step S37, the control unit 40 may acquire information such as the position and range of the identification information on the tablet based on the multiple registration images. For example, the tablet model may be created by averaging values ​​indicating the position and range of the identification information identified based on each of the registration images. Alternatively, the tablet model may be created by taking into account a preset weighting corresponding to the ratio of the edge amount of the registration image to the edge amount of the reference captured image, based on the values ​​indicating the position and range of the identification information identified based on each of the registration images. This allows the control unit 40 to create a highly accurate tablet model even if the identification information in part of the registration image is missing.

[0242] <Step S39> In step S39, the control unit 40 acquires the tablet's identification information from the reference image or the registration image, and registers it in the drug master in association with the drug identification information, such as a drug name or drug code indicating the type of tablet. As a result, the tablet's identification information acquired in the information registration process is registered in the drug master as the source data for matching the tablet's identification information in the automated inspection process. For example, the control unit 40 acquires the identification information of the tablet's front surface based on one or more registration images corresponding to the front surface, and acquires the identification information of the tablet's back surface based on one or more registration images corresponding to the back surface.

[0243] <Step S40> In step S40, the control unit 40 acquires the minimum and maximum area values ​​of the tablet from one or more of the registration images. For example, the minimum and maximum area values ​​of the tablet are used to acquire the tablet area from the captured image in the automatic inspection process, or are used to calculate the circumference of the tablet. Note that the minimum and maximum area values ​​of the tablet may be acquired from multiple captured images, not just the registration image.

[0244] <Step S41> In step S41, the control unit 40 acquires the minimum and maximum values ​​of each color component of the tablet from one or more of the registration images. For example, the control unit 40 acquires the minimum and maximum values ​​for each of the RGB color components. Note that the minimum and maximum values ​​of each color component of the tablet may be acquired not only from the registration image but also from multiple captured images.

[0245] <Step S42> In step S42, the control unit 40 registers the shape information of the tablet that is the target of the information registration process in the drug master in association with the drug identification information such as the drug name or drug code that indicates the type of tablet. Specifically, the shape information of the tablet includes the height, width, and area values ​​of the tablet identified in step S38, the minimum and maximum values ​​of the area value of the tablet acquired in step S39, and the minimum and maximum values ​​of each color component of the tablet acquired in step S40.

[0246] When the shape information of the tablet is registered in the pharmaceutical master in this way, it is conceivable that the control unit 40 of the tablet packaging device 4 determines the suitability of the tablet based on the photographed image of the tablet and the shape information of the tablet in the automatic inspection process. More specifically, in the automatic inspection process, the control unit 40 compares the shape of the tablet contained in the photographed image with the shape of the tablet contained in the tablet model corresponding to the tablet contained in the prescription data. Then, if the comparison result of the tablet shape based on the tablet model is a match, the control unit 40 then compares the tablet identification information contained in the photographed image with the tablet identification information registered in the information registration process.

[0247] On the other hand, if the comparison result of the tablet shape based on the tablet model is inconsistent, the control unit 40 determines that the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is an error, without determining the suitability of the tablet based on the identification information contained in the captured image. That is, in the automatic inspection process, the suitability of the tablet is determined based on the tablet identification information only if the comparison result of the tablet shape is appropriate. Therefore, in the tablet packaging device 4, it is possible to omit as much as possible the processing load, such as the processing of acquiring the identification information from the captured image and the matching of the tablet based on that identification information.

[0248] [Device selection function] As described above, a plurality of tablet packaging devices 4 may be connected to the inspection support system 1. Therefore, the control unit 21 has a device selection function that selects, based on preset conditions, the tablet packaging device 4 that will perform the packaging process based on the prescription data. The device selection function will be described below with reference to Figures 31 and 32.

[0249] Here, the multiple tablet packaging devices 4 connectable to the inspection support system 1 may include a tablet packaging device 4 capable of executing the packaging process and the image inspection process (hereinafter referred to as a first tablet packaging device 401), and a tablet packaging device 4 capable of executing the packaging process but not the image inspection process (hereinafter referred to as a second tablet packaging device 402). For example, the second tablet packaging device 402 may not have the photographing unit 46. Furthermore, if the first tablet packaging device 401 is capable of executing the image inspection process and can switch between enabling and disabling the image inspection process, the tablet packaging device 4 in which the execution of the image inspection process is disabled is recognized by the server 2 as the second tablet packaging device 402. Note that, hereinafter, the first tablet packaging device 401 and the second tablet packaging device 402 will be collectively referred to simply as the "tablet packaging device 4."

[0250] The memory unit 22 of the server 2 stores selection setting information D11 used to select the tablet packaging device 4. FIG. 31 shows an example of the selection setting information D11. As shown in FIG. 31, the selection setting information D11 includes items for setting an automatic inspection function and a sorting function. The selection setting information D11 is input from the first tablet packaging device 401 to the control unit 21 of the server 2, or is read from the first tablet packaging device 401 by the control unit 21 of the server 2.

[0251] In the item of the automatic inspection function setting, whether the automatic inspection process is enabled or disabled is stored in association with each tablet packaging device number, which is identification information for identifying the tablet packaging device 4. As described above, if the automatic inspection process can be switched between enabled and disabled, the setting state of the automatic inspection process, whether enabled or disabled, is stored.

[0252] The sorting function setting items include a first priority condition and a second priority condition that are set in advance. The first priority condition is a condition for determining whether or not to execute the automatic inspection process, and the second priority condition is a condition for selecting the tablet packaging device 4 regardless of whether or not the automatic inspection process is required. In the inspection support system 1, the control unit 21 can set each of the first priority conditions to either enabled or disabled in accordance with a user operation during an initial setting process or the like. Furthermore, the control unit 21 can set a priority level for each of the second priority conditions in multiple second priority conditions in accordance with a user operation.

[0253] The first priority conditions include the items "DTA hit priority," "tablet number condition priority," and "high-risk drug priority." "DTA hit priority" is a condition under which the first tablet packaging device 401 is selected when the manual dispensing unit 42 is used in the packaging process. "Tablet number condition priority" is a condition under which the first tablet packaging device 401 is selected when the number of tablets per package is equal to or greater than a preset threshold in the packaging process. "High-risk drug priority" is a condition under which the first tablet packaging device 401 is selected when the drug to be packaged in the packaging process is a preset high-risk drug. In the example shown in Figure 31, "DTA hit priority" and "high-risk drug priority" are enabled, and "tablet number condition priority" is disabled.

[0254] The second priority conditions include the items of "mounting hit rate priority," "free buffer rate priority," and "customer-specified priority." "Mounting hit rate priority" is a condition for selecting the tablet packaging device 4 having the largest number of types of drugs filled in the tablet cassette 41 among the drugs to be packaged in the packaging process. "Free buffer rate priority" is a condition for selecting the tablet packaging device 4 having the smallest amount of waiting prescription data as the target for packaging process. "Customer-specified priority" is a condition for selecting the tablet packaging device 4 designated by the user. In the example shown in FIG. 31, the priority of "customer-specified priority" is set to "1," the priority of "mounting hit rate priority" is set to "2," and the priority of "free buffer priority" is set to "3." Note that the second priority conditions are not limited to those for which the priorities are set, and may be alternatively selected.

[0255] Then, the control unit 21 executes a device selection process to select the tablet packaging device 4 that will perform the packaging process corresponding to each of the prescription data, based on at least one of the contents of the prescription data and the contents of the packaging process, and the selection setting information D11. The control unit 21 when executing the device selection process is an example of a selection processing unit. Fig. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of the device selection process. The control unit 21 executes the device selection process for prescription data that requires the packaging process using the tablet packaging device 4, out of the prescription data.

[0256] <Step S51> First, in step S51, the control unit 21 determines whether or not at least one of the contents of the prescription data and the contents of the packaging process satisfies any of the first priority conditions. If the control unit 21 determines that any of the first priority conditions is satisfied, it shifts the process to step S511, and if it determines that none of the first priority conditions are satisfied, it shifts the process to step S52.

[0257] Here, the first priority conditions "DTA hit priority" and "high-risk drug priority" are set to be valid. Therefore, when the manual preparation unit 42 is used in the packaging process for the prescription data, or when the drug to be packaged is a high-risk drug, it is determined that the first priority condition is met.

[0258] <Step S511> In step S511, the control unit 21 selects the first tablet packaging device 401 capable of performing the image inspection process as the tablet packaging device 4 that will perform the packaging process based on the prescription data, and transmits the prescription data to the selected tablet packaging device 4. That is, the first tablet packaging device 401 is selected when at least one of the first priority conditions is satisfied. Therefore, when it is desirable to perform the image inspection process, the packaging process can be performed using the first tablet packaging device 401.

[0259] <Step S52> If it is determined in step S51 that the first priority condition is not satisfied, the tablet packaging device 4 is selected in accordance with the second priority condition in the subsequent steps S52 and S53. Specifically, in step S52, the control unit 21 increments the value of a counter N used to identify the priority value of the second priority condition by 1. The initial value of counter N is 0, and is reset to 0 at the start or end of the device selection process.

[0260] <Step S53> In step S53, the control unit 21 determines whether any of the tablet packaging devices 4 can be selected based on the second priority condition of counter N, which has a preset priority value among the second priority conditions. For example, if there is only one tablet packaging device 4 that meets the second priority condition, the control unit 21 determines that the tablet packaging device 4 is selectable. If the control unit 21 determines that the tablet packaging device 4 is selectable (S53: Yes), it proceeds to step S54, and if the control unit 21 determines that the tablet packaging device 4 is not selectable (S53: No), it returns to step S52.

[0261] Even if the value of counter N is the same as the number of the second priority conditions (here, "3"), if it is determined that the tablet packaging device 4 is not selectable, it is considered that a predetermined specific tablet packaging device 4 is selected from among the tablet packaging devices 4. Furthermore, if the value of counter N is the same as the number of the second priority conditions, and if it is determined that the tablet packaging device 4 is not selectable, it is considered that the tablet packaging device 4 with the largest or smallest tablet packaging device number is selected from among the tablet packaging devices 4,

[0262] <Step S54> In step S54, the control unit 21 selects the tablet packaging device 4 that will perform the packaging process based on the second priority condition, whose priority is the value of counter N, and transmits the prescription data to the selected tablet packaging device 4. As a result, the packaging process is performed by the tablet packaging device 4 selected in accordance with the priority of the second priority condition.

[0263] It is also possible that the first tablet packaging device 401 will not be selected in step S54. That is, it is possible that the control unit 21 will select one of the second tablet packaging devices 402 based on the second priority condition, the priority of which is the value of counter N, in step S54. As a result, if all of the first priority conditions are not met, the second tablet packaging device 402, which does not execute the image inspection process, will be used, and dispensing processing based on the prescription data will be carried out quickly.

[0264] In the image inspection process, the appropriateness of the results of the packaging process is inspected by determining whether the type of each tablet matches the type of tablet included in the prescription data based on the captured image of the tablets taken by camera 462 or camera 463 before they are packaged in the drug package 451. That is, in the image inspection process, the appropriateness of the drug package 451 obtained as the result of the packaging process is determined by determining whether the tablets before being packaged in the drug package 451 were appropriate. On the other hand, the image inspection process is not limited to this. For example, a photographing unit may be provided that photographs the drug package 451 after the tablets have been packaged in the drug package 451, and whether the type of each tablet matches the type of tablet included in the prescription data may be determined based on the captured image of the tablet. Furthermore, in the image inspection process, whether the number of tablets in each tablet matches the number of tablets included in the prescription data may be determined based on the captured image of the tablet. That is, the image inspection process may be any process that determines whether or not some or all of the steps in the packaging process have been performed appropriately based on a photographed image of the tablet or the medicine packet 451.

[0265] [Audit record function] Incidentally, when the packaging process is performed by the first tablet packaging device 401, the automatic inspection process is performed by the first tablet packaging device 401, thereby reducing the burden on the pharmacist of inspecting the packaging process. However, even when either the first tablet packaging device 401 or the second tablet packaging device 402 is selected by the device selection function to perform the packaging process, the pharmacist cannot see the medicine package 451 and recognize whether the packaging process has been performed by the first tablet packaging device 401.

[0266] Therefore, it is conceivable that the tablet packaging device 4 has an inspection recording function that records whether or not the image inspection process has been performed as the automatic inspection process on the first or last medicine package 451 of a series of medicine packages 451 dispensed in the packaging process. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is conceivable that the first tablet packaging device 401 includes, in addition to the printing unit 453, a stamp unit 454 that can record whether or not the image inspection process has been performed on the medicine package 451 after the packaging process. The stamp unit 454 can record inspection information, such as text or an image indicating that the image inspection process has been performed, on the medicine package 451 by stamping. For example, as shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B, the inspection information can be the character string "Subject to automatic check" indicating that the medicine package is subject to inspection by the image inspection process, or "CH," the initial letter of "CHECK," indicating that the medicine package has been checked by the image inspection process.

[0267] Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the stamp unit 454 includes a stamp that records "Subject to automatic check" or "CH" as described above, and a stamp that records "NG" as the inspection presence information on the medicine package 451 as shown in FIG. 33C. If the result of the image inspection process is OK, "Subject to automatic check" or "CH" is recorded on the medicine package 451 as described above, and if the result of the image inspection process is an error, "NG" is recorded on the medicine package 451 as the inspection presence information. Note that the fact that the image inspection process has not been performed is indicated by the fact that the inspection presence information such as "Subject to automatic check," "CH," or "NG" is not recorded on the medicine package 451.

[0268] It is also conceivable that the control unit 40 uses the printing unit 453 to print "Subject to automatic check" or "CH" on the medicine package 451 as information indicating whether or not the medicine package 451 is subject to the image inspection process. Furthermore, a configuration is also conceivable in which the image inspection process for tablets already packaged in the medicine package 451 is completed at the time when the printing unit 453 is able to record the inspection presence information on the medicine package 451. In this case, it is conceivable that the control unit 40 uses the printing unit 453 to print "Subject to automatic check" or "CH" on the medicine package 451 as the inspection presence information if the result of the image inspection process is OK, and to print "NG" as the inspection presence information if the result of the image inspection process is an error.

[0269] [Second embodiment] Next, an inspection support system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that configurations not described here are the same as those of the first embodiment. Below, an example of the procedure for the automatic inspection process executed by the tablet packaging device 4 in the inspection support system 1 according to this embodiment will be described, and then other display examples in the inspection support process executed by the server 2 will be described.

[0270] [Automatic audit function] As described above, the tablet packaging device 4 has an automatic inspection function that executes the automatic inspection process for determining whether the tablets contained in the medicine packet 451 packaged in the packaging process are appropriate. Here, a specific example of the automatic inspection process will be described.

[0271] First, when the control unit 40 executes the packaging process based on the prescription data, the tablets are photographed by the cameras 461-467 of the photographing unit 46. Furthermore, when the packaging process is executed, the control unit 40 counts the number of tablets detected by the passage detection sensor 475 of the passage detection unit 47 for each medicine packet 451. The control unit 40 counting the number of tablets is an example of a tablet number detection unit. Then, when the packaging process is completed, the control unit 40 executes the automatic inspection process according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 34, for example, to determine whether the tablets contained in each medicine packet 451 packaged by the packaging process are appropriate. The automatic inspection process is executed for each medicine packet 451. The control unit 40 may execute the automatic inspection process and the packaging process in parallel.

[0272] <Step S61> First, in step S61, the control unit 40 determines whether or not it is necessary to execute the image inspection process, and if it is determined that it is necessary to execute the image inspection process (S61: Yes), the control unit 40 proceeds to step S62. For example, the control unit 40 determines whether or not to execute the image inspection process according to the current inspection mode (one of the first inspection mode to the third inspection mode) that can be switched by the inspection mode switching function. Note that if the image inspection process is always executed in the tablet packaging device 4, step S61 is omitted.

[0273] <Step S62> Then, in steps S62 to S65, the control unit 40 executes an image inspection process to compare the tablet identification information obtained from the captured image for each tablet contained in the medicine bag 451 with the tablet identification information included in the prescription data.

[0274] More specifically, the control unit 40 determines whether the shape of the tablet matches the shape of the tablet registered in the pharmaceutical master in association with the tablet included in the prescription data. If the tablet shapes do not match, the control unit 40 determines that the matching result is a mismatch. On the other hand, if the tablet shapes match, the control unit 40 acquires the tablet's identification information from the captured image and performs an image inspection process to compare the identification information with the tablet's identification information registered in the pharmaceutical master in association with the tablet included in the prescription data. Here, the control unit 40 performing this process is an example of an image inspection processing unit. For example, in the image inspection process, the control unit 40 extracts an image of the tablet including the tablet's identification information from the captured image and performs a matching process between the image of the tablet in the captured image and the image of the tablet's identification information in the original image. Alternatively, the identification information characters may be recognized from the captured image using a well-known optical character recognition (OCR) process, and the matching may be performed using the identification information characters. As described above, if the tablet is a flat tablet having a front and back surface, the control unit 40 identifies the captured images f4 and f8 corresponding to the front and back surfaces of the tablet as shown in Fig. 24A and acquires the identification information from the captured images f4 and f8. If the tablet is a capsule tablet, the control unit 40 acquires the identification information from the left and right capsule pieces of the capsule tablet.

[0275] <Step S63> In step S63, if the comparison result in step S62 is a match (S63: Yes), the control unit 40 shifts the processing to step S64, and if the comparison result is a mismatch (S63: No), the control unit 40 shifts the processing to step S631.

[0276] <Step S64> In step S64, the control unit 40 records the fact that the inspection result of the tablet in the prescription data is appropriate in the storage unit 49. That is, the control unit 40 determines that the inspection result of the image inspection process is appropriate if the shape and identification information of the tablet match the shape and identification information of the tablet registered in the medicine master.

[0277] <Step S631> In step S631, the control unit 40 determines whether a different tablet type not included in the prescription data is detected as the tablet type. For example, if the tablet type is not detected, the identification information attached to the tablet may be missing. Furthermore, since tablets without identification information cannot be verified by the image inspection process, the different tablet type will not be detected even if the tablet does not have identification information. On the other hand, if a different tablet type is detected, the tablet is clearly incorrect. Therefore, in step S631, if the different tablet type is detected (S631: Yes), processing proceeds to step S632. If the different tablet type is not detected (S631: No), processing proceeds to step S633. For tablets without identification information, it is also possible to determine whether the appearance of the tablet, such as its shape, size, and color, matches that registered in the pharmaceutical master. If the appearance matches, processing proceeds to step S632. If the appearance does not match, processing proceeds to step S633. Furthermore, when a matching process is performed in step S62, it is determined in step S631 whether the degree of match (matching rate) obtained as a result of the matching process is less than a predetermined threshold, and if it is less than the threshold, the process proceeds to step S632.

[0278] <Step S632> Then, in step S632, the control unit 40 records the fact that the inspection result of the image inspection process for the tablet is an error in the storage unit 49. That is, the control unit 40 determines that the inspection result of the image inspection process is an error if the identification information of the tablet is clearly different from the identification information of the tablet registered in the medicine master.

[0279] <Step S633> On the other hand, in step S633, the control unit 40 records in the memory unit 49 as the inspection result of the tablet, that the inspection result of the image inspection process for the tablet may be inappropriate and that a visual check is necessary. That is, the control unit 40 determines that the inspection result of the image inspection process requires check unless the identification information of the tablet is clearly different from the identification information of the tablet registered in the pharmaceutical master. Note that, in the image inspection process, the inspection result of the image inspection process may also be determined to require check if the degree of match in the collation result of the tablet's identification information is below a predetermined value.

[0280] <Step S65> Next, in step S65, if the control unit 40 determines that the image inspection process has been completed for all tablets in the medicine bag 451 (S65: Yes), it transitions the process to step S66, and if not (S65: No), it returns the process to step S62.

[0281] <Step S66> In step S66, the control unit 40 executes a counting inspection process to determine whether the number of tablets detected by the passage detection sensor 475 in the packaging process matches the number of tablets to be packaged in the medicine packet 451 in the prescription data. Specifically, the passage detection sensor 475 (see FIG. 2) is disposed downstream of the position where the tablets are photographed by the cameras 462 and 463, at a position where the tablets can be detected before they are contained in the medicine packet 451. As a result, in the counting inspection process, the appropriateness of the number of tablets counted at least downstream of the position where the tablets are photographed until the medicine packet 451 is sealed is determined. Here, the control unit 40 when executing the counting inspection process is an example of a counting inspection processing unit.

[0282] <Step S67> In step S67, if the comparison result in step S66 is a match (S67: Yes), the control unit 40 shifts the processing to step S68, and if the comparison result is a mismatch (S67: No), the control unit 40 shifts the processing to step S671.

[0283] <Step S68> In step S68, the control unit 40 records in the memory unit 49 that the inspection results of the counting inspection process for the tablet are correct, in association with the tablet that was the subject of comparison in step S66.

[0284] <Step S671> In step S671, the control unit 40 records in the memory unit 49 the fact that the inspection result of the counting inspection process for the tablet is an error, in association with the tablet that was the subject of comparison in step S66.

[0285] In this way, when the execution of the image inspection process is set to enabled, the automatic inspection process executes both the image inspection process and the counting inspection process, and if the inspection results of both are correct, the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is judged to be correct, and if either inspection result is an error, the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is judged to be an error.

[0286] Then, when the automatic inspection process has been executed for all the tablets in the medicine packets 451 packaged in the packaging process, the control unit 40 transmits the results of the image inspection process together with the captured images to the server 2. The number of tablets used in the counting inspection process is also transmitted to the server 2 by the control unit 40. This makes it possible for the server 2 to display the results of the image inspection process, the results of the counting inspection process, the captured images, etc. as needed in the inspection support process executed by the control unit 21.

[0287] [Display example for audit support processing] Specifically, various display screens are displayed as described above in the audit support process (see FIG. 7) executed by the control unit 21. Here, other examples of the various display screens displayed in the audit support process will be described.

[0288] 35A, 36, and 37A are diagrams showing an audit detail screen D303, which is another example of the audit detail screen D302 (see FIGS. 19 and 20). Specifically, Fig. 35A is a display example when the audit result from the automatic audit process is appropriate, Fig. 36 is a display example when the audit result from the automatic audit process is erroneous, and Fig. 37A is a display example when the audit result from the automatic audit process requires checking.

[0289] As shown in Figure 35A, if the inspection results of the automatic inspection process are appropriate, the inspection details screen D303 displays "Waiting for approval" in the inspection result area A313 as the inspection result of the automatic inspection process. Also, on the inspection details screen D303, the result display field A323 showing the results of the automatic inspection process for each tablet in the dispensing details area A322 is blank. Furthermore, the inspection details screen D303 displays an approval key K311 that can be used to approve the displayed inspection results.

[0290] When the approval key K311 is operated on the inspection details screen D303, the control unit 21 accepts approval of the inspection results of the automatic inspection process and stores the approval in association with the prescription data. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 35B, the control unit 21 displays "Approved OK" as the inspection result of the automatic inspection process in the inspection result area A313 on the inspection details screen D303. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 35B, the control unit 21 displays "○" in the result display field A321 on the inspection details screen D303, indicating that the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate. Note that, as shown in FIG. 35B, if the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is "Approved OK," the approval key K311 is grayed out or the like to indicate that it cannot be operated.

[0291] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 36, if the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the inspection details screen D303 displays "NG" in the inspection result area A313, indicating that the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is an error. Also, as shown in FIG. 37A, if the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is a check required, the inspection details screen D303 displays "CHECK" in the inspection result area A313, indicating that the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is a check required. In particular, if the control unit 21 cannot obtain the identification information of the tablet in the image inspection process, that is, even if the tablet has no text printed or engraved on it, as in the case of the tablet "Tic Tac" shown in FIG. 37B, the control unit 21 displays a message indicating that all of the medicine packets 451 containing the tablet need to be checked. If the inspection result of the automatic inspection process indicates that checking is required, the approval key K311 can be operated as shown in Figures 37A and 37B. However, if the inspection result of the automatic inspection process indicates an error, the approval key K311 becomes grayed out and cannot be operated, as shown in Figure 36.

[0292] Furthermore, operation keys K312 to K314 are displayed on the inspection details screen D303. The operation key K312 is an operation key for re-executing the packaging process for one or more of the medicine packages 451. When the reissue key K312 is operated, the control unit 21 displays a reissue operation screen D304 for setting a method for re-executing the packaging process. Here, FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an example of the reissue operation screen D304.

[0293] As shown in FIG. 38, on the reissue operation screen D304, "all packets," "only CHECK packets," "only NG packets," "CHECK, NG packets," and "designated packets" can be selected as targets for re-execution of the packaging process. When "all packets" is selected, all of the medicine packets 451 are targeted, and when "only CHECK packets" is selected, only those medicine packets 451 for which the inspection result indicates a need for checking are targeted. Furthermore, when "only NG packets" is selected, only those medicine packets 451 for which the inspection result indicates an error are targeted, and when "CHECK, NG packets" is selected, only those medicine packets 451 for which the inspection result indicates an error and those medicine packets 451 that indicate a need for checking are targeted. Furthermore, with "designated packets," it is possible to arbitrarily designate the medicine packets 451 to be re-executed, and for example, consecutive or individual designations are possible. As will be described later, if the drug package 451 to be re-executed in the packaging process has already been specified on another screen, the identification information of the specified drug package 451, such as the drug package number, will be displayed in the input field for the specified package.

[0294] The reissue operation screen D304 displays a reissue key K315 for starting execution of reissue, and in response to operation of the reissue key K315, the control unit 21 transmits to the tablet packaging device 4 a control instruction for re-executing the packaging process for the specified medicine package 451. As a result, in the tablet packaging device 4, the packaging process for the medicine package 451 specified on the reissue operation screen D304 is re-executed in accordance with the control instruction.

[0295] The operation key K313 is an operation key for displaying the manual preparation confirmation screen D5. The operation key K313 is operable when the manual preparation unit 42 is used in the packaging process, and is inoperable (grayed out, for example) when the manual preparation unit 42 is not used in the packaging process. When the operation key K313 is operated, the control unit 21 displays the manual preparation confirmation screen D5 (see FIG. 14) on which the manual preparation image is displayed.

[0296] The operation key K314 is an operation unit for changing the display size of the list of inspection results on the inspection details screen D303. When the display size is changed by operating the operation key K314, the control unit 21 changes the number of medicine packages 451 displayed simultaneously on the inspection details screen D303. The operation key K314 allows the user to select any of four display sizes: "large," "medium," "small," and "extra small." This allows the user to select a display mode according to their purpose, such as enlarging and checking each captured image when referring to the results of the automatic inspection process, or understanding the overall results of the automatic inspection process.

[0297] As described above, when a photographed image of a specific tablet in a specific medicine package 451 is selected on the inspection details screen D303, the control unit 21 displays the enlarged screen D34 corresponding to the tablet. Here, FIGS. 39A and 39B show an enlarged screen D341 as another example of the enlarged screen D34. As shown in FIGS. 39A and 39B, the enlarged screen D341 displays the enlarged image P342 corresponding to the normal image and an enlarged image P343 of the photographed image corresponding to the selected tablet side by side. The control unit 21 may display the enlarged screen D34 only for photographed images of tablets for which the inspection result of the automatic inspection process indicates an error or requires check, or may be capable of displaying the enlarged screen D34 for photographed images of all tablets.

[0298] Furthermore, the control unit 21 can display the enlarged image P343 displayed on the enlarged screen D341 by sequentially switching between multiple captured images corresponding to the tablet at predetermined intervals, as shown in Figures 39A and 39B. More specifically, when the enlarged screen D341 is displayed, the control unit 21 starts switching between the enlarged images P343. This allows the user to determine the suitability of the tablet by referring to multiple captured images of the tablet's periphery taken from different angles.

[0299] Operation keys K361 to K364 are displayed on the enlarged screen D341. When the operation key K361 is operated, the control unit 21 suspends the automatic switching of the enlarged image P343, and when the operation key K361 is operated again, the control unit 21 resumes the automatic switching of the enlarged image P343. Note that it is also conceivable that the control unit 21 may start the automatic switching of the enlarged image P343 when the operation key K361 is operated after the enlarged screen D341 is displayed.

[0300] Furthermore, when the operation key K362 is operated when the inspection result of the automatic inspection process for the displayed tablet indicates a need for check or an error, the control unit 21 records that the tablet was visually determined to be appropriate as the inspection result for that tablet. Furthermore, when the operation key K363 is operated, the control unit 21 selects and records the medicine package 451 containing the displayed tablet as the tablet to be reissued. Here, for the tablet or medicine package 451 selected as the tablet to be reissued, additional information A324 such as characters or a design indicating that the tablet is the tablet to be reissued may be displayed in association with the tablet on the inspection details screen D303, as shown in FIG.

[0301] Furthermore, when the operation key K364 is operated, the control unit 21 records that an action such as manually replacing tablets contained in the medicine packet 451 including the displayed tablet will be performed. In this case, too, for the tablet selected as the target for the manual action, additional information A325 such as characters or a design indicating that the tablet is the target for the manual action may be displayed in association with the tablet on the inspection details screen D303, as shown in Fig. 37A.

[0302] Furthermore, if the inspection result of the automated inspection process for the tablet displayed on the enlarged screen D341 indicates a need for further inspection, the control unit 21 may display a similar drug list P361 on the enlarged screen D341, as shown in FIG. 40, which shows information on one or more types of tablets whose identification information is similar to that of the tablet. If the tablet displayed on the enlarged screen D341 does not have identification information, the control unit 21 displays information on one or more types of tablets whose shape is similar to that of the tablet in the similar drug list P361. By displaying the similar drug list P361 in this way, the user can easily determine the suitability of the tablet by referring to the similar drug list P361. As shown in FIG. 40, the operation key K362 may include an operation key that simultaneously accepts an operation to switch back and forth between tablets displayed on the enlarged screen D341 and an operation to visually confirm that the tablet is suitable.

[0303] As shown in Figures 36 and 37A, if the inspection results of the automatic inspection process include an error or a need for check, the control unit 21 displays both tablets for which the inspection results of the automatic inspection process are OK and tablets for which the inspection results are an error or need for check on the inspection details screen D303. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 41, if the inspection results of the automatic inspection process include an error or a need for check, the control unit 21 may display only tablets for which the inspection results of the automatic inspection process are an error or need for check on the inspection details screen D303. In other words, the display of tablets for which the inspection results of the automatic inspection process are correct is omitted. This allows the user to easily grasp only the inspection results that require confirmation, making the work of confirming the inspection results of the automatic inspection process more efficient. If the inspection result of the automatic inspection process includes an error tablet, "NG" is displayed in the inspection result area A313, and if the inspection result of the automatic inspection process does not include an error tablet but includes a tablet that needs to be checked, "CHECK" is displayed in the inspection result area A313. Also, as shown in FIG. 37A, the result display field A323 corresponding to the tablet whose inspection result is a check-requiring tablet displays a "△" mark indicating that it needs to be checked. Note that the result display field A323 corresponding to the tablet whose inspection result is an error displays an "X" mark indicating an error, and the result display field A323 corresponding to the tablet whose inspection result is correct displays a "○" mark indicating that it is correct.

[0304] 35A, 36, and 37A, the image inspection process is displayed. In response to this, the control unit 21 may display an inspection details screen D305, which displays both the inspection results of the image inspection process and the counting inspection process, instead of the inspection details screen D303. Here, FIGS. 42A and 42B are diagrams showing an example of the inspection details screen D305.

[0305] 42A and 42B, the counting inspection process is executed for all medicine packages 451 by the automatic inspection process, and the image inspection process is executed for only the first medicine package 451 for each administration period, and the inspection results are displayed in the first array (see FIG. 27). In the inspection details screen D305, part or all of the image inspection process is omitted, and a "number mode" indicating that the counting inspection process is being executed is displayed in the display area A327.

[0306] In particular, on the inspection details screen D305 shown in FIG. 42A, the control unit 21 displays the captured image used in the image inspection process for only the first medicine package 451 for each dosing period. That is, for tablets in the medicine package 451 for which the image inspection process has not been performed, images are taken by the cameras 462 and 463, but the captured image of the tablet is not displayed. This allows the user to easily understand whether the image inspection process has been performed. Note that the captured image used in the image inspection process is an image that has been cropped to extract the area of ​​the tablet from the image actually taken by the cameras 462 and 463.

[0307] 42B, the control unit 21 displays the captured image used in the image inspection process for the first medicine package 451 for each dosing period. On the other hand, for tablets for which the image inspection process has not been performed, the control unit 21 displays the captured image that was actually photographed by the cameras 462 and 463 and was not cropped when the image inspection process was performed. This allows the user to easily understand whether the image inspection process has been performed.

[0308] Meanwhile, since the counting inspection process has been executed for all medicine packages 451, the control unit 21 displays the number of tablets used in the counting inspection process for each medicine package 451 in the tablet number display area A326 on the inspection details screen D305. This allows the user to easily understand that there is no problem with the number of tablets detected in the counting inspection process.

[0309] Furthermore, the control unit 21 can display the inspection results of the image inspection process and the tablet count inspection process on the inspection details screen D305. Specifically, if an error occurs in the image inspection process, the background of the captured image of the tablet in which the error occurred is displayed in the sixth specific color, such as red, indicating that the result of the automatic inspection process is an error. Furthermore, if an error occurs in the count inspection process, the background of the display area for the number of tablets in which the error occurred is displayed in the sixth specific color, such as red, indicating that an error has occurred.

[0310] Incidentally, if the tablet packaging device 4 is equipped with a camera that photographs the medicine packet 451 after the tablets have been packaged in the packaging unit 45, the control unit 21 may also cause the photographed image taken by the camera after packaging to be displayed on the details screen D305. For example, the photographed images after packaging are displayed below the tablet count display area A326.

[0311] [Backward deviation detection function] In the tablet packaging device 4, for example, when a plurality of tablets are packaged in the medicine packet 451 in the packaging process executed by the packaging unit 45, there is a risk of a shift in position, where some of the tablets are packaged in the next medicine packet 451. To address this, the tablet packaging device 4 may have a shift detection function for detecting the shift.

[0312] Specifically, the tablet packaging device 4 is provided with a detection unit 476 for detecting whether or not a tablet to be contained in the medicine packet 451 is present downstream of the medicine packet 451 when the medicine packet 451 is closed. Then, the control unit 40 detects a backward displacement of the tablet to be contained in the medicine packet 451 based on the detection result by the detection unit 476. Hereinafter, the backward displacement detection function will be described with reference to Figures 43 to 52.

[0313] As shown in FIG. 43, the packaging unit 45 is provided below the rotary unit 44 and is capable of packaging tablets M dispensed from the rotary unit 44 one packet at a time. The packaging unit 45 has a packaging paper supply unit 450A and a packaging mechanism 450B. The packaging paper supply unit 450A is a mechanism that pays out packaging paper S wound around a roll shaft 450C and sends it to the packaging mechanism 450B. The packaging paper S is a long, heat-sealable sheet that is folded in half in the short direction and wound around the roll shaft 450C. The packaging mechanism 450B has a sheet support unit 450D, a guide member 450E, and a sealing device 450F. The packaging mechanism 450B is capable of packaging the medicines M supplied from the rotary unit 44 by crimping the packaging paper S sent from the packaging paper supply unit 450A into a bag shape.

[0314] More specifically, guide member 450E functions as a guide for guiding packaging paper S delivered from packaging paper supply unit 42. Sealing device 50 can crimp a portion of one longitudinal end (downstream side) of packaging paper S that has been supplied while being guided by guide member 44b to form a half-pouch, or can crimp and close the open portion of the half-pouch-shaped packaging paper S to form a bag. More specifically, by crimping packaging paper S using sealing device 50, medicine packets 451 containing medicine M can be formed as shown in FIG. 47. Sealing device 450F forms a vertical seal (first vertical seal AS1 or second vertical seal AS3) that closes the downstream portion of packaging paper S in the direction of travel in the short direction of packaging paper S in the medicine packet 451 to be produced, and also forms a horizontal seal WS2. This forms a half-pouch-shaped packaging paper S (medicine packet 451) with an open portion upstream of packaging paper S in the direction of travel. In this state, after the medicine M is poured into the half-pouch-shaped packaging paper S (medicine package 451), the open portion is sealed by sealing device 450F. That is, if a portion of the horizontal seal WS2 is unsealed, the unsealed portion is closed by sealing device 450F, and a vertical seal (second vertical seal AS3) that seals the packaging paper S in the short direction is formed upstream in the traveling direction of the packaging paper S.

[0315] As shown in Fig. 44, the sealing device 450F is mainly composed of a pair of roller frames 450a, 450b. The sealing device 450F is provided with a protective cover 450c on the roller frame 50a side, but when the protective cover 450c is removed, the roller frames 50a, 50b are abutted against each other and are substantially symmetrical, as shown in Fig. 45.

[0316] As shown in FIG. 45 and other figures, roller frames 450a, 450b are formed of metal frames that are substantially U-shaped (gate-shaped) when viewed from the front. Roller frames 450a, 450b are provided with support shafts 450d extending in the vertical direction, to which vertical seal member 450e and horizontal seal member 450f are attached. Vertical seal member 450e and horizontal seal member 450f are each attached so as to be rotatable about support shaft 450d. Vertical seal member 450e and horizontal seal member 450f are each connected to separate power sources (not shown) via separate power transmission mechanisms (not shown), and are rotatable independently of each other. The bag length of medicine packet 451 can be changed by changing the rotation speed of vertical seal member 450e and horizontal seal member 450f.

[0317] Vertical seal member 450e is made of metal and, as shown in FIG. 45, has a substantially linear shape in a front view. As shown in FIG. 46, vertical seal member 450e has a disk-shaped lower end portion 450i and a plate-shaped heating portion 450k. Heating portion 450k is located between upper end portion 450g and lower end portion 450i of horizontal seal member 450f (described later) and is substantially perpendicular to both ends. Heaters 450h and perforation line forming portions 450j are linearly arranged on both sides of heating portion 450k, extending from upper end portion 450g toward lower end portion 450i. Heaters 450h, 450h are capable of thermally sealing the packaging paper S. Therefore, by rotating vertical seal members 450e, 450e arranged in parallel and passing the folded packaging paper S between them, a seal (vertical seal) extending in the short direction of the packaging paper S can be formed.

[0318] Furthermore, the tear line forming section 450j is capable of forming perforations in the packaging paper S. In this embodiment, the tear line forming section 450j on the roller frame 450b side is configured with a cutter for forming the perforations, and the tear line forming section 450j on the roller frame 450a side is configured with a receiving blade provided corresponding to the cutter.

[0319] As shown in Figure 45, horizontal seal member 450f includes upper end portion 450g and heater 450m. Upper end portion 450g is a disk-shaped member located above heating portion 450k of vertical seal member 450e. Heater 450m is provided around the entire periphery of upper end portion 450g. Therefore, by rotating horizontal seal members 450f, 450f arranged in parallel, and passing the folded packaging paper S between upper end portions 450g, 450g, a seal (horizontal seal) extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging paper S can be formed.

[0320] 45, in sealing device 450F, vertical sealing members 450e, 450e and horizontal sealing members 450f, 450f are arranged generally parallel with a predetermined clearance between them within a roughly square-shaped (rectangular) area surrounded by roller frames 450a, 450b. Sealing device 450F rotates vertical sealing members 450e, 450e and horizontal sealing members 450f, 450f, and passes packaging paper S through the clearance between them to form horizontal and vertical seals, thereby forming medicine package 451.

[0321] As shown in FIG. 48, the rotary unit 44 is provided with a medicine introduction section 80 for supplying tablets M individually dispensed from the rotary unit 44 to the packaging unit 45. The medicine introduction section 80 may be any device capable of supplying tablets M into packaging paper S, but in this embodiment, it is configured as a hopper. As shown in FIGS. 48 and 49, the medicine introduction section 80 is inserted into an open portion of an unsealed medicine packet 451 formed from the packaging paper S by the sealing device 450F, and is capable of introducing tablets M into the medicine packet 451. Specifically, the medicine introduction section 80 is positioned so that its base end faces the rotary unit 44 and its tip end is inserted into the unsealed medicine packet 451 being formed by the sealing device 450F. That is, the medicine introduction section 80 is inserted inside the packaging paper S, which has been folded in half, upstream of the sealing device 450F in the conveyance direction of the packaging paper S.

[0322] In the tablet packaging device 4, the medicine packets 451 contained in the medicine packet 451 may be affected by the heat from the heaters 450h and 450m. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 49, the tablet packaging device 4 is provided with a blower fan 51 capable of blowing air onto the packaging paper S at a position where tablets are supplied from the medicine introduction section 80 to the packaging paper S. This allows the packaging paper S to be cooled by the air blown from the blower fan 51, thereby suppressing the effect of the heat from the heaters 450h and 450m. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 49, the blower fan 51 is disposed above the passage path of the packaging paper S and can also blow air into the packaging paper S from an open portion of the packaging paper S. The blower fan 51 may also be disposed in a position where it can blow air from another direction, such as below the passage path of the packaging paper S.

[0323] 48 and 49, the packaging unit 45 is provided with a detection unit 476 that detects the presence of tablets M in the introduction path of tablets M by the medicine introduction unit 80. As shown in FIG. 48, the detection unit 476 includes a camera 476a and an illumination device 476b that can photograph the introduction path of tablets M by the medicine introduction unit 80. The camera 476a is arranged so as to be able to photograph (detect) the inside of the packaging paper S upstream of the sealing device 450F in the conveyance direction of the packaging paper S. In the present embodiment, the camera 476a is arranged from the base end side toward the tip end side of the medicine introduction unit 80. As described above, the medicine introduction unit 80 is located upstream of the sealing device 450F. Therefore, the camera 476a is arranged so as to be able to photograph (detect) the area upstream of the sealing device 450F in the conveyance direction of the packaging paper S. The illumination device 476b includes a light source such as a light-emitting diode or a light bulb. The lighting device 476b is arranged, like the camera 476a, so as to be able to illuminate the internal region of the drug introduction section 80 from the base end side to the tip end side of the drug introduction section 80. The control section 40 stores the image captured by the camera 476a in the storage section 22 and also transmits it to the server 2.

[0324] In the tablet packaging device 4, the control unit 40 can determine, based on the detection data input from the detection unit 476, that a packaging failure has occurred due to the tablet M overflowing from the medicine bag 451 in which the tablet M should be packaged.

[0325] Next, a description will be given of a method for forming medicine packet 451 by sealing device 450F performed in tablet packaging device 4, and a method for determining packaging defects performed in the process of forming medicine packet 451. In the following description, first, an overview of the method for forming medicine packet 451 will be given with reference to Figure 51, and then a subroutine for the process of forming the second vertical seal will be described with reference to Figure 52.

[0326] [About the formation method of drug pack 451] Control unit 40 forms medicine packet 451 in accordance with the control flow shown in Fig. 51. Specific operations and controls will be described below with reference to Fig. 51.

[0327] <Step S71> When forming medicine packet 451, first in step S71, a vertical seal (hereinafter also referred to as "first vertical seal AS1") for closing the upstream end of medicine packet 451 is formed by vertical sealing members 450e, 450e at the leading position in the direction of travel of packaging paper S (see FIG. 47). Thereafter, the control flow proceeds to step S72.

[0328] <Step S72> In step S72, horizontal seal WS2 (see Figure 47) is formed to close the edge of the packaging paper S, which is supplied folded in half, on the side opposite the fold. Specifically, horizontal seal members 450f, 450f are rotated and the packaging paper S is passed between them, thereby forming the horizontal seal.

[0329] <Step S73> In step S73, it is confirmed whether or not horizontal seal WS2 has been formed until packaging paper S reaches a position (sealing position) where medicine packet 451 is to be sealed. If it is determined that horizontal seal WS2 has reached the sealing position (step S73: YES), the control flow proceeds to step S74, and if it is determined that it has not yet reached the sealing position (step S73: NO), the control flow returns to step S72.

[0330] <Step S74> In step S74, a vertical seal (hereinafter also referred to as the "second vertical seal AS3") for closing the end of the medicine packet 451 downstream in the direction of travel of the packaging paper S is formed in accordance with the subroutine of FIG. 52, which will be described in detail later. Here, the second vertical seal AS3 also functions as the first vertical seal AS1 of the medicine packet 451 to be formed next. Therefore, the second vertical seal AS3 functions as a seal that forms the boundary of the medicine packet 451 that is continuously formed in the longitudinal direction of the packaging paper S. Once the second vertical seal AS3 has been formed, the control flow proceeds to step S75.

[0331] <Step S75> In step S75, it is confirmed whether or not the medicine packet 451 sealed with second vertical seal AS3 in step S74 is the final one. If the medicine packet 451 sealed in step S74 is not the final one (step S75: NO), the control flow returns to step S72, and if it is the final one (step S75: YES), the series of control flows is completed.

[0332] [About the forming process of the second vertical seal AS3] Next, the subroutine for the step of forming the second vertical seal AS3 in step S74 described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0333] <Step S74-1> In step S74-1, in order to form the second vertical seal AS3, the vertical seal members 450e, 450e start to rotate so that the heating sections 450k, 450k are positioned opposite each other, After that, the control flow proceeds to step S74-2.

[0334] <Step S74-2> In step S74-2, as shown in FIG. 6, it is confirmed whether the time has come when the heated portions 450k, 450k of the vertical sealing members 450e, 450e begin to contact the packaging paper S (contact start timing). Whether the contact start timing has been reached can be confirmed in various ways. Specifically, for example, a timer that starts timing from the time when rotation of the vertical sealing members 450e, 450e begins in step S74-1 is provided, and the timer is used to confirm that a predetermined time has elapsed; a rotation detector capable of detecting the amount of rotation of the vertical sealing members 450e, 450e is provided, and confirmation is made as to whether the detected amount of rotation has reached a predetermined amount; or a detector capable of detecting the angle or posture of the vertical sealing members 450e, 450e is provided, and confirmation is made as to whether the heated portions 450k, 450k of the vertical sealing members 450e, 450e have reached the angle or posture at which contact begins. If it is confirmed by these methods that the contact start timing has been reached (step S74-2: YES), the control flow proceeds to step S74-3; if it is not confirmed (step S74-2: NO), the control flow continues at step S74-2.

[0335] <Step S74-3> In step S74-3, control is performed to temporarily stop the rotation of the vertical seal members 450e, 450e. As a result, the vertical seal members 450e, 450e are temporarily stopped in a position where the heating units 450k, 450k begin to contact each other. Thereafter, the control flow proceeds to step S74-4.

[0336] <Step S74-4> In step S74-4, the detection unit 476 detects the presence or absence of tablet M in the internal region of the medicine introduction unit 80 and in the region inside the packaging paper S that is upstream in the conveying direction of the vertical seal (first vertical seal AS1 or second vertical seal AS3) already formed by the sealing device 450F (sealing detection). At this time, the illumination device 450b is turned on, illuminating the internal region of the medicine introduction unit 80. The detection data by the detection unit 476 is input to the control unit 40. The detection data may be any data that is effective for determining the presence or absence of tablet M, but in this embodiment, image data captured by the camera 467a is input to the control unit 40 as the detection data. Specifically, if tablet M is not present, an image of only the medicine introduction unit 80 is acquired as shown in FIG. 50A, and if tablet M is present, an image containing tablet M is acquired as shown in FIG. 50B. Such image data is input to the control unit 40 as the detection data. Thereafter, the control flow proceeds to step S74-5.

[0337] <Step S74-5> In step S74-5, the determination unit 102 of the control unit 40 determines whether or not tablets M are present based on the detection data (image data) acquired by the sealing detection performed in step S74-4. In this embodiment, image data is acquired as the detection data, and therefore the determination of whether or not tablets M are present is performed using a method that utilizes the image data, such as image analysis. The determination of whether or not tablets M are present may be performed by any method. For example, an image acquired by camera 92 when tablets M are not present may be prepared as a master image, and the presence or absence of tablets M may be determined using an image actually acquired by camera 476a and the master image. Note that, when the determination is performed using a master image as described above, if the packing paper S is captured in the image acquired by camera 476a, it is desirable to prepare different master images depending on the type of packing paper S. Specifically, the packing paper S is folded in half and supplied with two sides overlapping each other. However, the packing paper S may be transparent on both sides, or transparent on one side with an opaque portion (for example, a band of a color such as white) on the other side. It is clear that there will be a difference in the image captured by camera 476a when the former type of packaging paper S is used and when the latter type of packaging paper S having opaque portions is used. Therefore, it is desirable to prepare master images for each type of packaging paper S to accommodate differences in packaging paper S. After the determination of tablets M has been made as described above, the control flow proceeds to step S74-6.

[0338] <Step S74-6> In step S74-6, it is confirmed whether or not tablets M have been detected as a result of the determination in step S74-5. If tablets M have not been detected (step S74-6: YES), it is assumed that tablets M to be packaged have been packaged without leaking from the medicine bag 451. In this case, it is determined that tablets M have been packaged normally, and the control flow proceeds to step S74-7. On the other hand, if tablets M have been detected (step S74-6: NO), as shown in FIG. 48, it is highly likely that tablets M to be packaged in the previous medicine bag 451 (medicine bag 451a on the lower side in the figure) have leaked from the medicine bag 451 and moved to the medicine bag 451 to be formed later (medicine bag 451b being formed on the upper side in the figure). In this case, it is determined that a packaging failure has occurred, and the control flow proceeds to step S74-9.

[0339] <Step S74-7> In step S74-7, control is performed to resume the rotation of the vertical seal members 450e, 450e that was temporarily stopped in step S74-3. As a result, the heating sections 450k, 450k of the vertical seal members 450e, 450e begin to come into surface contact with each other, and the second vertical seal AS3 is formed.

[0340] <Step S74-8> In step S74-8, it is confirmed whether or not the formation of the second vertical seal AS3 has been completed. If it is determined that the formation of the second vertical seal AS3 has been completed (step S74-8: YES), the series of control flows is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the formation of the second vertical seal AS3 has not been completed (step S74-8: NO), the control of step S74-8 continues.

[0341] <Step S74-9> In step S74-9, a process (processing at the time of defective packaging) is performed to deal with the fact that leakage of tablets M has been confirmed in the above-mentioned step S74-6. Specifically, the process at the time of defective packaging includes a process of notifying the occurrence of defective packaging by means of a sound, an image display, lighting of a lamp, or the like. This completes the series of control flows shown in Fig. 52.

[0342] As described above, in the tablet packaging device 4 of the present embodiment, it is determined that a packaging defect has occurred on the condition that the detection unit 476 detects the presence of tablets M during the period from the timing at which the sealing of the medicine packet 451 into which tablets M have been introduced starts until the timing at which tablets M to be packaged in the next medicine packet 451 are introduced. In this way, packaging defects caused by tablets M overflowing from the medicine packet 451 that should have been packaged can be accurately detected, and the effort required for inspection can be minimized.

[0343] Furthermore, in the tablet packaging device 4 described above, the timing at which vertical seal member 450e comes into contact with packaging paper S to form second vertical seal AS3 is set as the timing at which sealing of medicine package 451 containing tablets M begins, and at this timing, the joining of packaging paper S by sealing device 450F is interrupted and tablet M is detected by detection unit 476. This makes it possible to more accurately detect packaging defects caused by tablets M leaking out when sealing medicine package 451. It also makes it possible to prevent problems such as tablets M leaking out of medicine package 451 becoming caught between vertical seal members 450e, 450e.

[0344] In the present embodiment, the timing when the vertical seal member 450e contacts the packaging paper S to form the second vertical seal AS3 is regarded as the timing when the sealing of the medicine packet 451 starts, and the detection unit 476 detects the tablets M. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other timing may be regarded as the timing when the sealing of the medicine packet 451 starts, and similar processing may be performed. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the detection unit 476 detects the tablets M at the timing when the sealing of the medicine packet 451 starts, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the presence of the tablets M may be detected at any timing (for example, after sealing) within the period from the timing when the sealing of the medicine packet 451 starts until the sealing is completed. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the sealing by the vertical seal member 450e is temporarily stopped at the timing when the detection unit 476 detects the tablets M. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, when the detection unit 476 detects the presence or absence of the tablet M, the sealing by the vertical sealing member 450e may not be stopped, or the speed at which the seal is formed by the vertical sealing member 450e may be reduced.

[0345] In this embodiment, an example has been shown in which roller-shaped vertical sealing members 450e, 450e and horizontal sealing members 450f, 450f can be driven and controlled individually as sealing device 450F to accommodate medicine packaging bags 451 of different lengths, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, if the bag length of medicine packaging bag 451 is only required to be constant, sealing device 450F may be configured so that vertical sealing members 450e, 450e and horizontal sealing members 450f, 450f are driven integrally.

[0346] In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the packing paper S is sandwiched and sealed using roller-shaped vertical sealing members 450e, 450e and horizontal sealing members 450f, 450f to form the medicine bag 451, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the packing paper S may be sealed in other forms and methods to form the medicine bag 451.

[0347] In addition, in this embodiment, an example has been shown in which medicine package 451 is formed by folding packaging paper S in half and sealing the doubled portion, but the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, two sheets of packaging paper S may be supplied, overlapped, and joined to form medicine package 451.

[0348] In this embodiment, the detection unit 476 is exemplified as a detection device equipped with a camera 476a for detecting tablets M. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any device capable of detecting the presence of tablets M may be used. Specifically, the detection unit 476 may be provided with an optical sensor or infrared sensor capable of detecting the presence or absence of tablets M inside the packaging paper S, upstream of the sealing device 450F in the conveyance direction of the packaging paper S. When an optical sensor or the like is used as the detection unit 476, it is preferable to take measures to ensure sufficient detection accuracy by taking into account the characteristics of the sensor. Specifically, if the detection distance of the optical sensor or the like is set short, there is a concern that the detection accuracy of the presence of small tablets M will decrease. In other words, when the size of the tablet M is small, the distance between the optical sensor or the like and the surface of the tablet M will be longer than when the size of the tablet M is large. Therefore, if the detection distance of the optical sensor or the like is set short, there is a concern that the detection accuracy of small tablets M will decrease. On the other hand, if the detection distance of the optical sensor or the like is set long, there is a concern that the vertical seal member 450e or the like will be detected as tablet M. Therefore, when an optical sensor or the like is employed in the detection unit 476, it is preferable to take measures such as setting the detection distance in consideration of the size of the tablets M to be handled.

[0349] Furthermore, detection unit 476 may be located inside packaging paper S at any position upstream of sealing device 450F in the conveying direction of packaging paper S, as long as it can detect the presence of tablet M. Specifically, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 49, detection unit 476X similar to detection unit 476 may be located at the tip side of medicine introduction unit 80, or detection unit 476Y may be located further upstream of medicine introduction unit 80.

[0350] Furthermore, in order to improve the detection accuracy of whether the tablets M have been accurately packaged, other sensors may be provided in addition to the detection unit 476. Specifically, a drop sensor for detecting the drop of the tablets M may be provided in the medicine introduction unit 80, etc. If the conditions for determination are that the tablets M are detected by the drop sensor and that leakage of the tablets M is not detected based on the detection result by the detection unit 476, it is possible to detect with even greater accuracy whether the tablets M dispensed for packaging have been accurately packaged.

[0351] In the present embodiment, the detection unit 476 is used to detect whether the tablets M have been accurately packaged when the medicine packet 451 is sealed. However, the detection unit 476 may be used for other purposes. Specifically, the detection unit 476 may be configured to detect the presence of the tablets M when the tablets M to be packaged are to be introduced from the medicine introduction unit 80 into the packaging paper S. That is, the detection unit 476 may be used not only for the sealing detection described above, but also for introduction detection, which detects the introduction of the tablets M into the packaging paper S by the medicine introduction unit 80. In this case, the detection unit 476 can also be effectively used to confirm whether the tablets M have been supplied into the packaging paper S. Therefore, the sealing detection described above can confirm both that there is no leakage of the tablets M when the packaging paper S is sealed (forming the medicine packet 451), and the introduction detection can confirm that the tablets M have been reliably supplied. Only when both are confirmed can it be determined that the tablets M have been properly packaged, thereby further improving the accuracy of determining whether the tablets M have been accurately packaged.

[0352] In the present embodiment, an example has been shown in which the detection unit 476 detects the presence or absence of tablet M at the timing when the formation of the second vertical seal AS3 begins, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the detection unit 476 may detect tablet M at any timing within a period (hereinafter also referred to as a "detectable period") from the timing when the sealing of the medicine packet 451 into which tablet M has been introduced begins until the timing when tablets M to be packaged in the next medicine packet 451 to be formed are introduced via the medicine introduction unit 80. Specifically, the detection unit 476 may detect tablet M within a period from the completion of sealing of the medicine packet 451 into which tablet M has been introduced (after the second vertical seal AS3 has been formed) until the timing when tablets M to be packaged in the next medicine packet 451 to be formed are introduced. Furthermore, the detection unit 476 may not only detect at a predetermined timing (point in time) within the aforementioned detection period, but may also continuously detect over a predetermined period included in the aforementioned detectable period, or may detect intermittently within the detectable period.

[0353] In this embodiment, sealing device 450F is exemplified as a roller-shaped member made up of vertical sealing members 450e, 450e and horizontal sealing members 450f, 450f that can sandwich and join packaging paper S, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other methods of joining packaging paper S can be used in place of sealing device 450F. Specifically, a pair of plate-shaped heating elements having a flat shape, such as a T-shape, that can sandwich and join packaging paper S between the heating elements can be used in place of sealing device 450F of this embodiment.

[0354] [Packaging view display function] In the process executed to realize the rearward displacement detection function (see FIG. 52), an image is captured by camera 476a when the heating portions 450k, 450k of vertical sealing members 450e, 450e reach the point at which they begin to contact packaging paper S (contact start timing). In contrast to this, it is conceivable that the control unit 40, separate from the contact start timing, uses camera 476a to capture an image of the medicine being introduced from the rotation unit 44 through the medicine introduction unit 80 into the medicine packet 451 formed in the packaging unit 45.

[0355] Here, the timing at which the tablet is introduced is considered to be the timing at which the tablet is detected by the passage detection sensor 475. The introduction timing is a timing that is preset as the timing at which the tablet dispensed from the paper feed cassette 41 or the manual dispensing unit 42 in the tablet packaging device 4 is introduced from the rotation unit 44 into the medicine introduction section 80. As a result, the photographing range of the camera 476a includes the medicine introduction section 80, the tablet, and the medicine packet 451. If the backward shift does not occur, the image taken at the introduction timing will capture the tablet introduced into the medicine introduction section 80 or the medicine packet 451, but the image taken at the contact start timing will not capture the tablet because the tablet has moved downstream of the vertical seal member 450e.

[0356] Then, the control unit 40 stores the image captured by the camera 476a in the storage unit 22 and transmits it to the server 2. As a result, in the tablet packaging device 4 or the server 2, the control unit 40 or the control unit 21 can realize a packaging view display function of displaying the captured image.

[0357] For example, in the server 2, when medicine package identification information such as a medicine package number for identifying the medicine package 451 is selected on the inspection details screens D301 to D303, the control unit 21 displays an individual medicine package information screen D306 showing a list of tablets contained in the medicine package 451. Here, Fig. 53 is a diagram showing an example of the individual medicine package information screen D306.

[0358] 53, the individual medicine package information screen D306 displays the drug name, normal image, photographed image, etc. of each tablet contained in the third medicine package 451 in the packaging process. Furthermore, on the individual medicine package information screen D306, for tablets contained in the medicine package 451 currently being displayed and for which the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the background of the display area for the photographed image is displayed in the sixth specific color such as red, which indicates that the result of the automatic inspection process is an error.

[0359] In addition, an operation key K371 is displayed on the individual medicine package information screen D306, and in response to operation of the operation key K371, the control unit 21 displays a packaging screen D307 on which a photographed image of the tablets contained in the medicine package 451 taken by the detection unit 476 is displayed.

[0360] Here, Fig. 54 is a diagram showing an example of the packaging screen D307. As shown in Fig. 54, the packaging screen D307 displays photographed images of the tablets taken by the detection unit 476 in the order in which they were photographed, each time the tablets fall from the rotary unit 44 through the medicine introduction unit 80 toward the medicine package 451. As described above, the photographed range captured in the photographed image includes the tablet introduction unit 80, the tablets, and the medicine package 451. This allows the user to easily understand the state of each tablet as it falls into the medicine package 451 by referring to the packaging screen D307.

[0361] The control unit 21 may display the image captured at the contact start timing in the packaging view D307 instead of or together with the image captured at the insertion timing. Furthermore, when the occurrence of a slippage is detected by the slippage detection function, the control unit 21 may also display a message indicating that the slippage has occurred and the image captured at the contact start timing in the packaging view D307.

[0362] The configurations and functions described in the first and second embodiments can be combined in any manner. Furthermore, the entities having the configurations and processing functions described in the first and second embodiments are not limited to those described here, and may be at least one of the server 2, the client terminal 3, and the tablet packaging device 4 included in the inspection support system 1. For example, it is conceivable that a process equivalent to the automatic inspection process is executed by the control unit 21 in the server 2, and a process equivalent to the inspection support process is executed by the control unit 40 in the tablet packaging device 4.

[0363] [Third embodiment] Next, an audit support system 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that configurations not described here are the same as those of the first or second embodiment.

[0364] As described in the first or second embodiment, in the inspection support system 1, the control unit 40 executes an image inspection process in which the tablet identification information acquired from the captured image is compared with the tablet identification information corresponding to the type of tablet included in the prescription data using an image. Specifically, in the image inspection process, a matching process is executed in which an image corresponding to the tablet identification information included in the captured image is compared with the correct image pre-registered in correspondence with the tablet identification information included in the prescription data. Note that the correct image corresponding to the tablet identification information included in the prescription data is a registered image pre-registered in the pharmaceutical master or the like as the correct image of the tablet corresponding to the identification information.

[0365] First, referring to FIG. 55, a case where the image inspection process is performed using a first matching process technique that detects the amount of overlap between two images as a degree of similarity will be described. Here, as shown in FIG. 55, an example will be described in which the identification information of the tablet to be inspected is "ABC111," a true image P11 corresponding to the tablet is registered in the pharmaceutical master, and a photographed image P12 of a tablet with identification information "ABC114" is captured as the photographed image. In this case, the first matching process compares the true image P11 and the photographed image P12 to detect a degree of similarity (match rate), and if the degree of similarity is equal to or greater than a preset threshold, the comparison result is determined to be a match. For example, using the true image P11 as a reference, the number of black pixels contained in the photographed image P12 out of the black pixels contained in the true image P11 is counted, and the proportion of the number of black pixels contained in the photographed image P12 to the total number of black pixels in the true image P11 is calculated as the degree of similarity. Therefore, if the captured image P12 contains a large portion of the correct image P11, the degree of match may be high and the matching result may be a match even if the captured image P12 contains extra black pixels.

[0366] For example, the composite image P13 in Fig. 55 is an image obtained by combining the genuine image P11 and the photographed image P12. As shown in Fig. 55, in the composite image P13, the identification information "ABC111" in the genuine image P11 and the identification information "ABC114" in the photographed image P12 differ by one character, but the only areas of the genuine image P11 that are not included in the photographed image P12 are areas P21 and P22. Therefore, the degree of match may be high, and the matching result may indicate a match.

[0367] In contrast, in the inspection support system 1 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 40 of the tablet packaging device 4 executes the image inspection process (see FIG. 56) described below, thereby realizing highly accurate image inspection processing. For example, in the second embodiment, this image inspection process is executed in place of steps S62 to S64 in the automatic inspection process (see FIG. 34). As mentioned above, the image inspection process may also be executed by the control unit 21 of the server 2.

[0368] Furthermore, in the inspection support system 1 according to this embodiment, the storage unit 49 stores the pharmaceutical master data, and similar tablets are pre-stored in the pharmaceutical master data in association with each other as similar drugs. For example, tablets whose identification information differs by only one character are pre-stored as similar drugs. Specifically, the same similar group code is assigned to similar tablets in the pharmaceutical master data. Furthermore, when the similar group code is assigned, similar portions of the tablets are pre-set as similar portions. In this embodiment, the same similar group code is assigned to the tablet corresponding to the identification information "ABC111" and the tablet corresponding to the identification information "ABC114," and the first digits corresponding to the different characters "1" and "4" are set as the similar portions. The similar group code and the similar portions are registered in the pharmaceutical master data by the control unit 40 in response to user operations using the operation and display unit 48, for example.

[0369] [Image inspection processing] An example of the image inspection process executed by the inspection support system 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 56. As described above, in the inspection support system 1, before the image inspection process is executed, a photographed image of the tablet to be packaged is acquired in the packaging process executed by the tablet packaging device 4. Furthermore, when acquiring the photographed image in the packaging process, the control unit 40 also determines whether the tablet is in the vertically rotated state, and if so, executes processing to change the orientation of the tablet. The control unit 40 then identifies, from the photographed images, one or both of the front and back faces of the tablet containing the tablet's identification information as the photographed image to be used in the image inspection process. The photographed image used in the image inspection process is an image captured by the camera 462 or 463 that contains at least the tablet's identification information, such as an image with a portion of the photographed image cropped, or the photographed image itself.

[0370] <Step S81> First, in step S81, the control unit 40 executes a first matching process to match the entire captured image with the true image. Specifically, the control unit 40 acquires the degree of match by executing the first matching process on the true image registered in the pharmaceutical master in association with the tablet that is the subject of the image inspection process and the captured image of the tablet captured in the packaging process. Note that the target for matching in the first matching process may be a predetermined identification information area in each of the true image and the captured image where the identification information exists.

[0371] <Step S82> In step S82, the control unit 40 determines whether the degree of match acquired in step S81 is equal to or greater than a preset first threshold. The first threshold is a value set in advance for determining that the collation result of the first matching process is a match. If it is determined that the degree of match is equal to or greater than the first threshold (S82: Yes), the process proceeds to step S83. If it is determined that the degree of match is less than the first threshold (S82: No), the process proceeds to step S821.

[0372] <Step S821> In step S821, the control unit 40 determines whether the degree of match acquired in step S81 is equal to or greater than a preset second threshold. The second threshold is a value lower than the first threshold and is a preset value for determining that the comparison result of the first matching process is a mismatch. If it is determined that the degree of match is equal to or greater than the second threshold (S821: Yes), the process proceeds to step S822. If it is determined that the degree of match is less than the second threshold (S821: No), the process proceeds to step S823.

[0373] <Step S822> If the degree of match acquired in step S81 is less than the first threshold and equal to or greater than the second threshold, it is impossible to clearly determine whether the result of matching between the normal image and the photographed image is a match or a mismatch. Therefore, in step S822, the control unit 40 records in the storage unit 49 the fact that a visual check is required (check required) as a result of the image inspection process for the tablet.

[0374] <Step S823> On the other hand, if the degree of match obtained in step S81 is less than the second threshold, it can be clearly determined that the matching result between the normal image and the photographed image does not match. Therefore, in step S823, the control unit 40 records in the storage unit 49 a message indicating that the matching result does not match (an error) as a result of the image inspection process for the tablet.

[0375] <Step S83> In step S83, the control unit 40 determines whether other tablets are registered as similar drugs in association with the tablet that is the subject of the image inspection process in the drug master. Specifically, the control unit 40 determines whether a tablet with the same similar group code as the tablet that is the subject of the image inspection process exists in the drug master. If it is determined that the similar drug exists (S83: Yes), the process proceeds to step S84. If it is determined that the similar drug does not exist (S83: No), the process proceeds to step S86.

[0376] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 55, the identification information "ABC111" of the original image P11 and the identification information "ABC114" of the captured image P12 have regions P21 and P22, which are differences between the regions of the character "1" and the character "4." However, these differences are extremely small relative to the overall character of the identification information, and therefore have little effect on the degree of match, which may result in the degree of match exceeding the first threshold. Note that the higher the first threshold is set, the greater the likelihood that the first matching process will be affected by extremely small noise, resulting in a mismatch. In contrast, in the inspection support system 1 according to this embodiment, the control unit 40 determines in step S83 whether the tablet being inspected contains a similar drug. If a similar drug is present, a more detailed image inspection process is performed in the subsequent step S84. Therefore, the first threshold can be set to a relatively low value to avoid being significantly affected by extremely small noise.

[0377] <Step S84> In step S84, the control unit 40 executes a second matching process to match only the similar portion of the photographed image with the correct image. Specifically, the control unit 40 executes a preset second matching process using areas corresponding to the similar portion in each of the correct image and the photographed image as the matching range. In the second matching process, the similar portion of the photographed image is binarized, and then a difference between the similar portion in the photographed image and the similar portion in the correct image is detected. The proportion of the matching area excluding the area where the difference occurs in the similar portion, which is the matching range, is obtained as the degree of match. For example, a value is calculated by subtracting the number of pixels detected as the difference in the similar portion from the number of pixels in the similar portion in the correct image, and the proportion of this calculated value to the number of pixels in the similar portion in the correct image is calculated as the degree of match. That is, in the second matching process, unlike the first matching process, even if the similar parts of the photographed image include most of the similar parts of the correct image, if the photographed image contains extra black pixels, the degree of match is calculated taking into account the difference, so the degree of match may be low and the matching result may not match. Note that if there are multiple similar drugs associated with the tablet that is the target of the image inspection process, multiple similar parts may be set for the tablet, and in this case, the degree of match between the photographed image and the correct image is obtained for each similar part by the second matching process.

[0378] Specifically, in the example described above, only the area corresponding to the first character "1" (enlarged area in Figure 55), which has been preset as a similar portion of the identification information "ABC111" of the tablet that is the subject of the image inspection process, is subject to the second matching process. By limiting the target area of ​​the second matching process in this way, a degree of match that largely reflects the influence of differences in the similar portions is detected. Furthermore, if tablets with identification information such as "ABO111" in addition to identification information "ABC114" are registered in the pharmaceutical master as similar drugs, the second matching process is also performed to compare the area corresponding to "C" in the captured image with the authentic image.

[0379] <Step S85> In step S85, the control unit 40 determines whether the degree of match in the first matching process executed in step S84 is equal to or greater than a preset third threshold. The third threshold is a preset value for determining that the comparison result of the similar parts is a match. For example, the third t...

Claims

1. a first processing unit that acquires a plurality of photographed images corresponding to each tablet obtained by photographing each tablet a plurality of times; A second processing unit displays only one photographed image including the identification information of the tablet among the plurality of photographed images of the tablet corresponding to the combination of the tablet name displayed in one of the columns or rows and the identification information of the package unit displayed in the other, at a position corresponding to the combination; Equipped with The plurality of photographed images corresponding to one of the tablets include a plurality of photographed images in which photographed regions on the periphery of the one tablet are different from each other, The second processing unit displays only the one photographed image used in the inspection process at a position corresponding to the combination on a display screen on which a result of an inspection process executed by a control unit based on one photographed image including identification information of the tablet among the plurality of photographed images of the tablet corresponding to the combination and prescription data is displayed. Inspection support system.

2. The inspection process is a matching process using the tablet identification information based on the tablet identification information included in the prescription data. The audit support system according to claim 1.

3. The inspection process is a matching process using a genuine image registered in advance corresponding to the identification information of the tablet included in the prescription data. The audit support system according to claim 1.

Images